The Impact of Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines on Medical Costs.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between non-adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and medical and indemnity spending among back and shoulder injury patients. METHODS: Workers compensation claims data was used from a large, US insurer (1999 to 2010). Least square regression models were created to examine the association between spending and guideline-discordant care. RESULTS: Non-adherence to CPGs was associated with higher medical and indemnity spending for 11 of the 28 CPG indicators. Failure to adhere to the other CPGs did not increase medical or total spending. After covariate adjustment, non-adherence to these 11 CPGs was associated with spending increases that ranged from $16,000 for physical therapy (PT) to $114,000 for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that failure to adhere to a subset of CPG indicators significantly predicts increased medical and indemnity spending for two important occupational injuries.

Non-pharmacologic treatments for symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically assess benefits and harm of non-pharmacologic interventions for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) symptoms.Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 1966 to May 24, 2016 for randomized controlled trials. Two reviewers evaluated studies for eligibility, serially abstracted data, evaluated risk of bias, and graded strength of evidence (SOE) for critical outcomes (pain and quality-of-life).Results: Twenty-three trials were included. For pain, alpha-lipoic acid was more effective than placebo (moderate SOE) and frequency-modulated electromagnetic stimulation was more effective than sham (low SOE) in the short-term but not the long-term. Electrical stimulation (including transcutaneous) was not effective for pain (low SOE). Spinal cord stimulation was more effective than usual care for pain (low SOE), but had serious complications, and studies had no sham arm. Evidence for cognitive behavioral therapy and acupuncture was insufficient; no exercise or physical therapy trials met inclusion criteria. No interventions reported sufficient evidence on quality-of-life. Most studies were short-term with unclear risk of bias.Conclusions: Alpha-lipoic acid and spinal cord stimulation were effective for pain; studies were short-term with quality deficits. Spinal cord stimulation had serious adverse events. Further research should address long-term outcomes and other non-pharmacologic treatments.

Pharmacotherapy for diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain and quality of life: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically assess the effect of pharmacologic treatments of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) on pain and quality of life. METHODS: We searched PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for systematic reviews from 2011 to October 12, 2015, and PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for primary studies from January 1, 2013, to May 24, 2016. We searched Clinicaltrials.gov on March 9, 2016. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies for eligibility, serially abstracted data, and independently evaluated risk of bias and graded strength of evidence (SOE). RESULTS: We updated a recently completed systematic review of 57 eligible studies with 24 additional published studies and 25 unpublished studies. For reducing neuropathy-related pain, the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors duloxetine and venlafaxine (moderate SOE), the anticonvulsants pregabalin and oxcarbazepine (low SOE), the drug classes tricyclic antidepressants (low SOE) and atypical opioids (low SOE), and botulinum toxin (low SOE) were more effective than placebo. We could not draw conclusions about quality of life due to incomplete reporting. All studies were short-term (less than 6 months), and all effective drugs had more than 9% dropouts from adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: For reducing pain, duloxetine and venlafaxine, pregabalin and oxcarbazepine, tricyclic antidepressants, atypical opioids, and botulinum toxin were more effective than placebo. However, quality of life was poorly reported, studies were short-term, drugs had substantial dropout rates, and opioids have significant risks. Future studies should evaluate longer-term outcomes, use methods and measures recommended by pain organizations, and assess patients' quality of life.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on cytokines in peripheral blood for healthy participants: a prospective, single-blinded Study.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of exercise on cytokines may improve muscle strength. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a muscle-preserving therapy that benefits patients unable to participate in active exercise. How NMES alters cytokines is unclear. The aim of this study was to study the effects of 1 NMES session on cytokines associated with protein metabolism during exercise. METHODS: We evaluated the effects of NMES on IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α levels in peripheral blood. Participants received NMES to bilateral lower extremity muscles (quadriceps, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius) for 30 min. Blood samples immediately pre- and post-NMES were drawn at 15-min intervals to 2-h follow-up, and the mean values of pre-NMES levels were compared to peak and trough post-NMES levels. For cytokines with significant changes, we conducted a repeated-measures linear regression analysis. We also measured post-NMES lactate and creatine kinase levels. RESULTS: We enrolled nine eligible participants. There was a significant increase in peak IL-6 from the mean pre-NMES value [0·65 (0·89) to 1·04 (0·89) pg ml-1 , P = 0·001] and a significant decrease in trough IL-1 [0·08 (0·07) to 0·02 (0·02) pg ml-1 , P = 0·041] and TNF-α [2·42 (0·54) to 2·16 (0·59) pg ml-1 , P = 0·021]. In repeated-measures regression analysis, we identified significantly higher mean IL-6 values throughout the full 120 min post-NMES period, and a significantly higher mean IL-1 value at 30 min post-NMES. There were no significant differences in peak IL-10, trough IL-6, lactate, or creatine kinase values. CONCLUSIONS: In nine healthy humans, 30 min of NMES was temporally associated with changes in cytokines similar to the effects of active exercise and may mediate NMES' observed effects on reducing muscle weakness.

Evaluating Clinical Practice Guidelines Based on Their Association with Return to Work in Administrative Claims Data.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between non-adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and time to return to work (RTW) for patients with workplace injuries. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Secondary analysis of medical billing and disability data for 148,199 for shoulder and back injuries from a workers' compensation insurer. STUDY DESIGN: Cox proportional hazard regression is used to estimate the association between time to RTW and receipt of guideline-discordant care. We test the robustness of our findings to an omitted confounding variable. DATA COLLECTION: Collected by the insurer from the time an injury was reported, through recovery or last follow-up. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Receiving guideline-discordant care was associated with slower RTW for only some guidelines. Early receipt of care, and getting less than the recommended amount of care, were correlated with faster RTW. Excessive physical therapy, bracing, and injections were associated with slower RTW. CONCLUSIONS: There is not a consistent relationship between performance on CPGs and RTW. The association between performance on CPG and RTW is difficult to measure in observational data, because analysts cannot control for omitted variables that affect a patient's treatment and outcomes. CPGs supported by observational studies or randomized trials may have a more certain relationship to health outcomes.

Early opioid prescription and risk of long-term opioid use among US workers with back and shoulder injuries: a retrospective cohort study.

The number of prescription opioid overdose deaths has increased dramatically in recent years and many prescribers are unsure how to balance treatment of pain with secondary prevention. Guidelines recommend low-severity injury patients not receive opioids early in the course of their care, but evidence supporting this guideline is limited. Data from 123 096 workers' compensation claims with back and shoulder injuries were analysed to evaluate this guideline. Back and shoulder injury claimants with early opioid use (≤1 month after injury) had 33% lower (95% CI 24% to 41% lower) odds and 29% higher (95% CI 6% to 58% higher) odds, respectively, of long-term opioid use (>3 months) than claimants with late opioid use, after adjusting for key covariates. Stratified analyses indicate that early opioid use does not appear to increase the risk of long-term use except in cases where no diagnosis or only the diagnosis of unspecified shoulder pain is given prior to prescription.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for intensive care unit-acquired weakness: protocol and methodological implications for a randomized, sham-controlled, phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: As the population ages and critical care advances, a growing number of survivors of critical illness will be at risk for intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness. Bed rest, which is common in the ICU, causes adverse effects, including muscle weakness. Consequently, patients need ICU-based interventions focused on the muscular system. Although emerging evidence supports the benefits of early rehabilitation during mechanical ventilation, additional therapies may be beneficial. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), which can provide some muscular activity even very early during critical illness, is a promising modality for patients in the ICU. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this article are to discuss the implications of bed rest for patients with critical illness, summarize recent studies of early rehabilitation and NMES in the ICU, and describe a protocol for a randomized, phase II pilot study of NMES in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: The study was a randomized, sham-controlled, concealed, phase II pilot study with caregivers and outcome assessors blinded to the treatment allocation. SETTING: The study setting will be a medical ICU. PARTICIPANTS: The study participants will be patients who are receiving mechanical ventilation for 1 day or more, who are expected to stay in the ICU for an additional 2 days or more, and who meet no exclusion criteria. INTERVENTION: The intervention will be NMES (versus a sham [control] intervention) applied to the quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius muscles for 60 minutes per day. MEASUREMENTS: Lower-extremity muscle strength at hospital discharge will be the primary outcome measure. LIMITATIONS: Muscle strength is a surrogate measure, not a patient-centered outcome. The assessments will not include laboratory, genetic, or histological measures aimed at a mechanistic understanding of NMES. The optimal duration or dose of NMES is unclear. CONCLUSIONS: If NMES is beneficial, the results of the study will help advance research aimed at reducing the burden of muscular weakness and physical disability in survivors of critical illness.

Early Physical Rehabilitation in the ICU: A Review for the Neurohospitalist.

Advances in critical care have resulted in improved intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. However, improved ICU survival has resulted in a growing number of ICU survivors living with long-term sequelae of critical illness, such as impaired physical function and quality of life (QOL). In addition to critical illness, prolonged bed rest and immobility may lead to severe physical deconditioning and loss of muscle mass and muscle weakness. ICU-acquired weakness is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation and weaning, longer ICU and hospital stay, and increased mortality. These physical impairments may last for years after ICU discharge. Early Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) interventions in the ICU may attenuate or prevent the weakness and physical impairments occurring during critical illness. This article reviews the evidence regarding safety, feasibility, barriers, and benefits of early PM&R interventions in ICU patients and discusses the limited existing data on early PM&R in the neurological ICU and future directions for early PM&R in the ICU.