The effect of delirium preventive measures on the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in older adults undergoing cardiovascular surgery. The DelPOCD randomised controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This trial examines the effect of delirium preventive measures on the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in older adults. DESIGN: In a randomised approach, a delirium prevention and a standard care group were compared regarding manifestation of postoperative cognitive dysfunction at seven days, three and twelve months postoperatively (primary outcome). To correct for practice effects and age-depended cognitive decline, a control group of age-matched healthy subjects was included. SETTING: The trial was conducted at the University Medical Centre Hamburg between 2014 and 2018, data assessment took place in the Anaesthesia Outpatient Clinic and on the surgical ward. PATIENTS: A total of 609 patients ≥60 years scheduled for cardiovascular surgery were enrolled, allocated treatment was received by 284 patients in the delirium prevention and 274 patients in the standard care group. INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of a delirium prevention bundle including reorientation measures, sleeping aids and early mobilisation. MEASUREMENTS: Cognitive functions were assessed via neuropsychological testing of attention, executive functions including word fluency, and verbal memory utilizing a computerised test of attentional performance, the trail making test, the digit span subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, the verbal learning and memory test, and the Regensburg Word Fluency Test. Assessments were performed preoperatively and at three time points postoperatively (one week, three months and 12 months). MAIN RESULTS: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction was defined as a clinically meaningful decline in at least two out of nine chosen test parameters compared to the preoperative level (reliable change index ≤ - 1.96). The rates of postoperative cognitive dysfunction were 25.9% (delirium prevention group, n = 284) vs. 28.1% (standard care group, n = 274) [X2(1,n = 433) = 0.245;p = 0.621] at postoperative day seven and declined to 7.8% vs. 6.8% [X2(1,n = 219) = 0.081;p = 0.775] and 1.3% vs. 5.6% (p = 0.215, Fisher's exact test) at three and 12 months following surgery, respectively. The postoperative delirium rates did not differ between the two groups (delirium prevention group: 13.4% vs. standard care group: 17.3%). Attentional performance was impaired shortly after surgery, whereas verbal delayed recall was most frequently affected over the whole postoperative period. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that an intervention combining specific measures extracted from established postoperative delirium prevention programs did not reduce the rate of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in older adults.

Depression and anxiety following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective population-based study in Germany.

In this prospective multicenter study, we investigated the course of depression and anxiety during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) until 5 years after transplantation adjusting for medical information. Patients were consulted before HSCT (n=239), at 3 months (n=150), 12 months (n=102) and 5 years (n=45) after HSCT. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Detailed medical and demographic information was collected. Prevalence rates were compared with an age- and gender-matched control group drawn from a large representative sample (n=4110). The risk of depression before HSCT was lower for patients than for the control group (risk ratio (RR), 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39/0.81). Prevalence rates of depression increased from 12 to 30% until 5 years post HSCT. Anxiety rates were most frequently increased before HSCT (29%, RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.02/1.68) and then reached a stable level comparable to the background population (RR 0.83, 95% CI, 0.56/1.22). This study confirms the low levels of depression in the short term after HSCT and identifies depression as a long-term effect. Furthermore, it confirms previous results of heightened anxiety before HSCT. Surveillance of symptoms of anxiety during the short-term phase of HSCT and of depression during the following years is crucial.

Investigating the temporal course, relevance and risk factors of fatigue over 5 years: a prospective study among patients receiving allogeneic HSCT.

Although allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) features severe physical and psychological strain, no previous study has prospectively investigated fatigue beyond 3 years after transplantation. We investigated the temporal course of fatigue over 5 years, compared patients with the general population (GP) and tested for treatment- and complication-related risk factors. Patients were assessed before conditioning (T0, N=239) and at 100-day (T1, N=150), 1-year (T2, N=102) and 5-year (T3, N=45) follow-up. We measured fatigue with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20. Patients were compared with the GP at T0 and at T3. Global fatigue increased from T0 to T1 (t=3.85, P<0.001), decreased from T1 to T2 (t=-2. 92, P=0.004) and then remained stable (t=0.45, P=0.656). No difference in global fatigue was found between T0 and T3 (t=0.68, P=0.497). Compared with the GP, patients showed higher global fatigue at T0 (t=-6.02, P<0.001) and T3 (t=-2.50, P=0.014). These differences reached meaningful effect sizes (d⩾0.5). Acute and chronic GvHD predicted global fatigue at T1 (γ=0.34, P=0.006) and T2 (γ=0.38, P=0.010), respectively. To conclude, fatigue among allogeneic HSCT patients improves with time, finally returning to pretransplantation levels. However, even after 5 years, the difference from the GP remains relevant. Patients with GvHD are at risk for increased fatigue.

[Assessment of Work Engagement in Patients with Hematological Malignancies: Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale 9 (UWES-9)]. / Erfassung von Arbeitsengagement bei Patienten mit hämatologischen Malignomen: Die psychometrischen Eigenschaften der deutschen Version der Utrecht Work Engagement Scale 9 (UWES-9).

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was the psychometric evaluation of the German version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9 (UWES-9), a self-assessment tool measuring work-related resources consisting of 9 items. METHODS: Based on a sample of 179 patients with hematological malignancies in in-patient and rehabilitative oncological settings, we tested the dimensional structure by confirmatory and explorative factor analysis. We further evaluated reliability, item characteristics, and construct validity of the UWES-9. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable fit for both a 1-dimensional factor structure and the original 3-factor model. Based on an explorative principal component analysis, we were able to replicate the 1-dimensional factor accounting for 67% of the total variance and showing very high internal consistency (α=0.94) and high factor loads (0.73-0.88). The construct validity was further supported by significant positive correlations between work engagement and meaning of work, corporate feeling, commitment to the workplace, and job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The German version of the UWES-9 shows good psychometric qualities in measuring dedication to work in patients with hematological malignancies in in-patient and rehabilitative oncological settings.

Fear of recurrence and its impact on quality of life in patients with hematological cancers in the course of allogeneic hematopoietic SCT.

We examined the course and the prevalence of a high fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in patients undergoing allogeneic PBSC transplantation (hematopoietic SCT (HSCT)) before HSCT (N=239), 100 days after (n=150, and 12 months after allogeneic HSCT (n=102). The Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form (FoP-Q-SF), the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. Pre-HSCT 36% of patients, 100 days after HSCT 24% of patients, and 1 year after HSCT 23% of patients fulfilled the criteria for high FCR (FoP-Q-SF cutoff=34). Being married (b=2.76, P=0.026), female gender (b=4.45, P<0.001) and depression (b=4.44, P<0.001) were significantly associated with FCR at baseline. One hundred days after HSCT, depression significantly predicted FCR (b=6.46, P<0.001). One year following HSCT, female gender (b=6.61, P=0.008) and higher depression were (b=4.88, P=0.004) significant predictors for FCR. Over the three assessment points, patients with high FCR had a significantly lower quality of life compared to patients with low FCR in physical functioning (P=0.019), role functioning (P=0.003), emotional functioning (P<0.001), cognitive functioning (P=0.003), social functioning (P<0.001) and global quality of life (P<0.001). Our data provide evidence that FCR is a prevalent problem in patients with hematological malignancies and has a significant adverse impact on health-related quality of life.

Monitoring and optimising cognitive function in cancer patients: Present knowledge and future directions.

The potentially detrimental effects of cancer and related treatments on cognitive functioning are emerging as a key focus of cancer survivorship research. Many patients with central nervous system (CNS) or non-CNS tumours develop cognitive problems during the course of their disease that can result in diminished functional independence. We review the state of knowledge on the cognitive functioning of patients with primary and secondary brain tumours at diagnosis, during and after therapy, and discuss current initiatives to diminish cognitive decline in these patients. Similarly, attention is paid to the cognitive sequelae of cancer and cancer therapies in patients without CNS disease. Disease and treatment effects on cognition are discussed, as well as current insights into the neural substrates and the mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in these patients. In addition, rehabilitation strategies for patients with non-CNS disease confronted with cognitive dysfunction are described. Special attention is given to knowledge gaps in the area of cancer and cognition, in CNS and non-CNS diseases. Finally, we point to the important role for cooperative groups to include cognitive endpoints in clinical trials in order to accelerate our understanding and treatment of cognitive dysfunction related to cancer and cancer therapies.

Sleep disturbances and emotional distress in the acute course of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Recent research has shown that patients undergoing hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) experience multiple symptoms that can affect the sleep quality adversely. This study investigated the sleep quality of patient in the acute course of HSCT, and measured the impact of sociodemographic, medical, physical and psychological factors. Fifty patients were assessed before admission, 44 participated during inpatient treatment and 32 on day 100 (+/-20) post-transplantation. Measuring instruments included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a sleep diary (sleep quality), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (health-related quality of life), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-German version (anxiety/depression) and the German version of the Cancer and Treatment Distress Scale (treatment-specific distress). The prevalence of sleep disturbances was 32% before admission, 77% during the hospital stay and 28% after discharge. Difficulty in maintaining sleep was the most intense sleep problem during the inpatient phase. This was mainly caused by disturbing noises and need to use the bathroom frequently. Sleep problems were significantly worse during the hospital stay compared with the other measurement points in time (P<0.001). A significant interaction was seen between the time course of sleep disturbances and the type of transplantation (P=0.001). The findings suggest that sleep disturbances after HSCT are particularly associated with physical functioning, fatigue and treatment-specific distress, and factors that contribute to sleep difficulties in the general population seem to be less important.

[Psychometric evaluation of a neuropsychological test battery measuring cognitive dysfunction in cancer patients--recommendations for a screening tool]. / Psychometrische Uberprüfung einer neuropsychologischen Testbatterie zur Erfassung kognitiver Dysfunktionen bei Krebspatienten--Empfehlungen für ein Basisassessment.

Cognitive dysfunctions in cancer patients as a consequence of various oncologic treatments (e. g. chemotherapy) have been increasingly described within the current literature. As most of the neuropsychological tests used within those studies have been developed and validated in neurologic or psychiatric patient populations, it remained unclear whether the application of such measures would be appropriate in cancer patients as well. The present study focused on the psychometric evaluation of a neuropsychological test battery that had been used in two empirical studies carried out at the Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. In addition, recommendations for a basic screening tool were developed. Both study samples were analyzed separately. One sample included breast cancer patients an average of five years following treatment; the second sample included patients with hematological malignancies which had been tested before and 100 days after stem cell transplantation. A further data set of a mixed cancer population (breast cancer patients and patients with hematological malignancies) and corresponding neuropsychological measures could be used for the replication of our results. Those patients had been investigated during an intervention study while receiving rehabilitation at the Clinic for Tumor Biology in Freiburg. Results show that primarily measures for attention were found to have satisfying to high reliability and contribute independently to the explanation of variance of neuropsychological dysfunctions after cancer treatment. In particular, the subtest "Alertness" of the Test Battery for Attentional Performance (TAP) can be recommended as a basic screening for the assessment of cognitive dysfunctions in breast cancer patients and patients with hematological malignancies.

[Health care needs of children and adolescents with a traumatic brain injury]. / Versorgungsbedarf von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit einem Schädel-Hirn-Trauma.

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of acquired disability in childhood. Within a project to improve out-patient rehabilitation and aftercare advice, centres for families affected by traumatic brain injuries were implemented in four German cities. The results of two sub-studies are described which aimed on the one hand at a process analysis of the network operation and on the other hand at a prospective analysis of the network interaction. The process analysis was based on a database which was developed for this study. Within a prospective longitudinal study, 103 families could be included. At four project sites, families were questioned with an interview and questionnaire at three different time points. Health-related quality of life, utilisation and health care satisfaction were assessed. In addition, a neuropsychological assessment was conducted with a portion of the sample. Overall, quality of life of the children and adolescents can be described as good. Health care services were scarcely utilised. A childcentred health care was predictive for the health care satisfaction of the parents. The short assessment proved to be a feasible method for identifying children and adolescents with special health care needs.

Cognitive function in the acute course of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies.

The aim of the study was to assess cognitive performance in patients with hematological malignancies before, and 3 months after, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). A consecutive sample of 39 patients was assessed before admission with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) questionnaires; 19 of these patients were retested around 100 days post HSCT. Test results were compared with normative data and revealed minimal differences at both time points in the level of group-means. One parameter - simple reaction time - was significantly worse (prolonged) at second measurement after HSCT. According to the definition of an impairment score (more than three impaired functions), 26% of patients were classified as impaired before as well as after HSCT. Neuropsychological test results did not vary systematically according to medical variables such as extent of pretreatment, graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) and kind of conditioning protocol. As a dimension of HRQoL, self-rated cognitive function was in the normal range before and after HSCT. Significant correlations between HRQoL and neuropsychological parameters were related to symptom scales. This study showed impairments of neuropsychological performance for a subgroup of patients before and after allogeneic HSCT. Systematic effects of conditioning, medical variables or self-rated HRQoL could not be observed.

Neuropsychological function in high-risk breast cancer survivors after stem-cell supported high-dose therapy versus standard-dose chemotherapy: evaluation of long-term treatment effects.

BACKGROUND: Studies on cognitive functioning in breast cancer patients point out that a subset of women exhibit chemotherapy-related neuropsychological impairment. Thereby, high-dose therapy may elevate the risk of cognitive dysfunctions. The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of high-dose versus standard-dose chemotherapy on the late neuropsychological outcome in randomized assigned high-risk breast cancer survivors. Next to focusing prevalence, function specificity and extent of cognitive impairment, the question as to whether doses-dependent group differences occur was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four high-dose and 23 standard-dose patients 5 years, on average, after treatment underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. In addition, 29 early-stage breast cancer patients matched for age, education and time since treatment were recruited as a comparison group. RESULTS: Global cognitive impairment was observed in 8% of high-dose versus 13% of standard-dose compared with 3% of early-stage breast cancer patients. Compared with normative data, all patient groups performed worse on one attention subtest measuring the simple reaction time (P < 0.001 in each case). By contrast, no significant between-group differences on the late neuropsychological outcome were found. CONCLUSIONS: Five years after treatment, standard-dose patients were slightly, but not significantly, more impaired in cognitive performance than high-dose patients.