A comparison of community-dwelling older schizophrenia patients by residential status.

OBJECTIVE: Differences in residential status may contribute to the diversity of findings observed in community-based samples of patients with schizophrenia. We compared older out-patients living independently with those in assisted-care facilities. METHOD: Two hundred and fifty-one out-patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, aged 40-97 years, who had been referred to our Intervention Research Center were examined. RESULTS: Assisted living status was associated with an earlier age at onset of illness, longer illness duration, lower probability of having ever been married, more severe negative symptoms, worse cognitive impairment, and a poorer health-related quality of wellbeing. Independent living and assisted-care patients had similar levels of positive and depressive symptoms, and were on comparable doses of neuroleptic medication. Significant 'predictors' of residential status were marital status, cognitive impairment and quality of wellbeing. CONCLUSION: Among schizophrenia out-patients, one needs to consider residential status in evaluating heterogeneity in cognitive performance or quality of wellbeing.

Bronchodilator effects of nebulized fenoterol: a comparison with isoproterenol.

In an attempt to find the optimal single therapeutic dose of fenoterol inhalant solution administered by compressor-powered nebulization, bronchodilator and side effects of five different doses of fenoterol (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mg) and of placebo were compared with those of the recommended therapeutic dose delivered from a metered dose canister in 16 patients with reversible airway obstruction. The fenoterol (except for the metered dose) and the placebo were given in a double-blind, cross-over manner. In comparison with placebo, all doses of fenoterol produced a significant increase in average values of FEV1, FEF25-75%, FVC, and SGaw and decrease in FRC for five to eight hours. There was a trend for the bronchodilator action to become greater and more prolonged with increasing doses of fenoterol. Compared with 0.4 mg given from a metered dose canister, 0.5 mg of fenoterol delivered by compressor powered nebulization was equally effective in bronchodilator potency. Dose-by-dose comparison with isoproterenol indicates that fenoterol is a more potent and longer lasting bronchodilator and has no significant effect on heart rate and blood pressures. The most common side effects were shakiness or tremor of hands which appeared to be dose-related in terms of incidence and intensity. The results of the present study suggest that 0.5 to 1.0 mg of fenoterol is a suitable single therapeutic dose when administered by compressor-powered nebulization.

Civilian ground and air transport of adults with acute respiratory failure.

The intermountain Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (IRICU), established in 1973 at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, provides specialized care for adults and older children with severe respiratory failure in the intermountain West. Because of the large area serviced by the IRICU, a transportation system for the critically ill was developed. Our report describes the transport system, including team organization, techniques, and experiences. Of 44 attempted transports during the last three years, 43 (98%) were safely accomplished without obvious ill effect to the patient. Patients with severe respiratory failure, if their conditions are adequately stabilized, can be safely transported hundreds of kilometers by ground and air by a well-equipped and well-trained team of physicians and nurses.