Health-related quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients: a European multi-country study

Abstract Background Inconsistent use of generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments in multiple sclerosis (MS) studies limits cross-country comparability. The objectives: 1) investigate real-world HRQOL of MS patients using both generic and disease-specific HRQOL instruments in the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Italy; 2) compare HRQOL among these countries; 3) determine factors associated with HRQOL. Methods A cross-sectional, observational online web-based survey amongst MS patients was conducted in June–October 2019. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and two HRQOL instruments: the generic EuroQOL (EQ-5D-5L) and disease-related Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL)-54, an extension of the generic Short Form-36 (SF-36) was collected. Health utility scores were calculated using country-specific value sets. Mean differences in HRQOL were analysed and predictors of HRQOL were explored in regression analyses. Results In total 182 patients were included (the Netherlands: n = 88; France: n = 58; the United Kingdom: n = 15; Spain: n = 10; living elsewhere: n = 11). Mean MSQOL-54 physical and mental composite scores (42.5, SD:17.2; 58.3, SD:21.5) were lower, whereas the SF-36 physical and mental composite scores (46.8, SD:22.6; 53.1, SD:22.5) were higher than reported in previous clinical trials. The mean EQ-5D utility was 0.65 (SD:0.26). Cross-country differences in HRQOL were found. A common predictor of HRQOL was disability status and primary progressive MS. Conclusions The effects of MS on HRQOL in real-world patients may be underestimated. Combined use of generic and disease-specific HRQOL instruments enhance the understanding of the health needs of MS patients. Consequent use of the same instruments in clinical trials and observational studies improves cross-country comparability of HRQOL

Control of tracheal cuff pressure: a pilot study using a pneumatic device

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a simple mechanical device to maintain constant endotracheal cuff pressure (Pcuff) during mechanical ventilation (large encased inflatable cuff connected to the endotracheal cuff and receiving constant pressure from a heavy mass attached to an articulated arm). Design and setting: Single-center, prospective, randomized, crossover, pilot study in a medical intensive care unit. Patients and participants: Nine consecutive mechanically ventilated patients (age 62 ± 20 years, SAPS II score 39 ± 15). Interventions: Control day: Pcuff monitored and adjusted with a manometer (Hi-Lo™, Tyco Healthcare) according to current recommendations (twice a day and after each intervention on the tracheal tube); initial target Pcuff 22-28 cmH 2 0. Prototype day: test device connected to the endotracheal cuff; same initial target. Continuous Pcuff recording during both days. Control and prototype days in random order. Results: Pcuff values over 50 cmH 2 0 were recorded in six patients during the control day (178 ± 159 min), never during the prototype day. During the control day, Pcuff was between 30 and 50 cmH 2 0 for 29 ± 25% of the time, vs 0.3 ± 0.3% during the prototype day (p < 0.01). Pcuff was between 15 and 30 cmH 2 0 for 56 ± 36% of the time during the control day, vs 95 ± 14% during the prototype day (p < 0.01). During the control day, Pcuff was below 15 cmH 2 0 for 15 ± 17% of the time, vs 4.7 ± 15% during the prototype day (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The tested device successfully controlled Pcuff with minimal human resource consumption. Prospective studies are required to assess its clinical impact

Time-resolved tracking of the atrioventricular plane displacement in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) images

Abstract Background Atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) is an indicator for systolic and diastolic function and accounts for 60% of the left ventricular, and 80% of the right ventricular stroke volume. AVPD is commonly measured clinically in echocardiography as mitral and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE and TAPSE), but has not been applied widely in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). To date, there is no robust automatic algorithm available that allows the AVPD to be measured clinically in CMR with input in a single timeframe. This study aimed to develop, validate and provide a method that automatically tracks the left and right ventricular AVPD in CMR images, which can be used in the clinical setting or in applied cardiovascular research in multi-center studies. Methods The proposed algorithm is based on template tracking by normalized cross-correlation combined with a priori information by principal component analysis. The AVPD in each timeframe is calculated for the left and right ventricle separately using CMR long-axis cine images of the 2, 3, and 4-chamber views. The algorithm was developed using a training set (n = 40), and validated in a test set (n = 113) of healthy subjects, athletes, and patients after ST-elevation myocardial infarction from 10 centers. Validation was done using manual measurements in end diastole and end systole as reference standard. Additionally, AVPD, peak emptying velocity, peak filling velocity, and atrial contraction was validated in 20 subjects, where time-resolved manual measurements were used as reference standard. Inter-observer variability was analyzed in 20 subjects. Results In end systole, the difference between the algorithm and the reference standard in the left ventricle was (mean ± SD) -0.6 ± 1.9 mm (R = 0.79), and −0.8 ± 2.1 mm (R = 0.88) in the right ventricle. Inter-observer variability in end systole was −0.6 ± 0.7 mm (R = 0.95), and −0.5 ± 1.4 mm (R = 0.95) for the left and right ventricle, respectively. Validation of peak emptying velocity, peak filling velocity, and atrial contraction yielded lower accuracy than the displacement measures. Conclusions The proposed algorithm show good agreement and low bias with the reference standard, and with an agreement in parity with inter-observer variability. Thus, it can be used as an automatic method of tracking and measuring AVPD in CMR