The effect and safety of constraint-induced movement therapy for post-stroke motor dysfunction: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Background: Due to motor function insufficiency, patients with post-stroke motor dysfunction (PSMD) have limitations in performing an activity, feel restricted during social participation, and feel impaired in their quality of life. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a neurorehabilitation technique, but its effectiveness on PSMD after stroke still remains controversial. Objective: This meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effect and safety of CIMT for PSMD. Methods: Four electronic databases were searched from their inception to 1 January 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of CIMT for PSMD. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias and reporting quality. The primary outcome was a motor activity log for the amount of use (MAL-AOU) and the quality of movement (MAL-QOM). RevMan 5.4, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 25.0, and STATA 13.0 software were used for statistical analysis. The certainty of the evidence was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. We also performed the TSA to assess the reliability of the evidence. Results: A total of 44 eligible RCTs were included. Our results showed that CIMT combined with conventional rehabilitation (CR) was superior to CR in improving MAL-AOU and MAL-QOM scores. The results of TSA indicated that the above evidence was reliable. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that CIMT (≥6 h per day or duration ≤ 20 days) combined with CR was more effective than CR. Meanwhile, both CIMT and modified CIMT (mCIMT) combined with CR were more efficient than CR at all stages of stroke. No severe CIMT-related adverse events occurred. Conclusion: CIMT may be an optional and safe rehabilitation therapy to improve PSMD. However, due to limited studies, the optimal protocol of CIMT for PSMD was undetermined, and more RCTs are required for further exploration. Clinical trial registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=143490, identifier: CRD42019143490.

A survey of caregiver burden for stroke survivors in non-teaching hospitals in Western China.

The social factors that moderate stroke caregiver burden have been found to be culture- and gender-specific. We examined the factors that influence the social support and self-efficacy of caregivers of stroke survivors and the burden of caregiving in China. To determine the caregiver burden of stroke survivors, their social support, and their self-efficacy. A total of 328 stroke survivors and their caregivers were recruited from 4 tertiary medical centers to participate in this cross-sectional study. The sociodemographic and stroke-related characteristics of the participants were obtained. Perceived social support and self-efficacy were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale and General Self-efficacy Scale, respectively. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview Scale. Relationships between the variables were assessed using Pearson's correlation, the chi-square test, and a paired t test. A total of 27.4% of the caregivers reported receiving adequate social support, while 20.7% reported high levels of self-efficacy. A total of 67.1% of the caregivers experienced varying degrees of care burden, while the remaining 32.9% felt no burden. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics (age, daily care time, self-rated health, and financial situation) were significantly related to caregiver burden, social support, and self-efficacy (P < .001). The findings indicate an inverse relationship between caregiver burden, social support and self-efficacy. Adequate social support and self-efficacy can reduce stroke caregivers' burden. Hospital departments should provide assistance to stroke caregivers through educational programs and group training to increase their social support and self-efficacy, thereby alleviating their burden.

Mean arterial pressure is associated with the neurological function in patients who survived after cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: About 18% to 40% of the survivors have moderate to severe neurological dysfunction. At present, studies on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and neurological function of patients survived after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are limited and conflicted. HYPOTHESIS: The higher the MAP of the patient who survived after CPR, the better the neurological function. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to detect the relationship between MAP and the neurological function of patients who survived after CPR by univariate analysis, multivariate regression analysis, and subgroup analysis. RESULTS: From January 2007 to December 2015, a total of 290 cases met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this study. The univariate analysis showed that MAP was associated with the neurological function of patients who survived after CPR; its OR value was 1.03 (1.01, 1.04). The multi-factor regression analysis also showed that MAP was associated with the neurological function of patients survived after CPR in the four models, the adjusted OR value of the four models were 1.021 (1.008, 1.035); 1.028 (1.013, 1.043); 1.027 (1.012, 1.043); and 1.029 (1.014, 1.044), respectively. The subgroups analyses showed that when 65 mm Hg ≤ MAP<100 mm Hg and when patients with targeted temperature management or without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, with the increase of MAP, the better neurological function of patients survived after CPR. CONCLUSION: This study found that the higher MAP, the better the neurological function of patients who survived after CPR. At the same time, the maintenance of MAP at 65 to 100 mm Hg would improve the neurological function of patients who survived after CPR.