The association between preoperative fatigue and instrumental activities in daily living with complications and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing colorectal surgery

Background: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is highest among the elderly. An important treatment modality is surgery. After surgery, due to poor functional recovery, some elderly have an increased risk for complications and prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS). Preoperative elevated levels of fatigue and impaired functioning in instrumental activities of daily living (iADL) might be associated with these outcomes, and may, therefore, be helpful to recognize patients with elevated risk for complications or prolonged LOS, who should undergo more thorough functional assessment. Aims: This exploratory study aims to assess whether physical fatigue, reduced activity and/or iADL, assessed preoperatively, are associated with postoperative complications and prolonged LOS, in elderly patients undergoing surgery for CRC. Methods: We performed an exploratory prospective study in older (≥ 65 years) patients (n = 57) who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery for colorectal cancer. Fatigue and iADL functioning were assessed with questionnaires. Multivariable regression analyses were used to examine the relationship of fatigue and iADL with complications and LOS. Results: IADL was not associated with complications or LOS. Fatigue was not associated with complications. Patients with higher fatigue had increased LOS in the univariable analyses but not in the multivariable analyses after adjustment for nutritional status and neoadjuvant treatment. Discussion: We found that fatigue was associated with increased LOS in the univariable analysis. The results from the multivariable analysis and path analysis indicate, however, that this is likely not a causal relationship; the observed relationship between physical fatigue and LOS appears to be confounded by nutritional status and by having received neoadjuvant treatment. Conclusions: Although fatigue is a predictor for increased LOS, assessment of fatigue and iADL has no additional value for identifying elderly at risk for poor functional outcome after CRC surgery

Conservative interventions for preventing clinically detectable upper-limb lymphoedema in patients who are at risk of developing lymphoedema after breast cancer therapy

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphoedema can be a debilitating long-term sequela of breast cancer treatment. Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of different treatment strategies to reduce the risk of breast cancer-related lymphoedema. Objectives: To assess the effects of conservative (non-surgical and non-pharmacological) interventions for preventing clinically-detectable upper-limb lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment. Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group's (CBCG) Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, PsycINFO, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform in May 2013. Reference lists of included trials and other systematic reviews were searched. Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials that reported lymphoedema as the primary outcome and compared any conservative intervention to either no intervention or to another conservative intervention. Data collection and analysis: Three authors independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data. Outcome measures included lymphoedema, infection, range of motion of the shoulder, pain, psychosocial morbidity, level of functioning in activities of daily life (ADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Where possible, meta-analyses were performed. Risk ratio (RRs) or hazard ratio (HRs) were reported for dichotomous outcomes or lymphoedema incidence, and mean differences (MDs) for range of motion and patient-reported outcomes. Main results: Ten trials involving 1205 participants were included. The duration of patient follow-up ranged from 2 days to 2 years after the intervention. Overall, the quality of the evidence generated by these trials was low, due to risk of bias in the included trials and inconsistency in the results

Comparison of symptom clusters associated with fatigue in older and younger survivors of colorectal cancer

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most frequently reported symptoms in cancer survivors. To be able to optimally treat CRF, knowledge of symptoms that interact with CRF is helpful. During aging, changes occur in body composition with progressive deterioration in physiological functions and metabolic processes causing a decline of adaptive capacity. Therefore, symptoms caused by cancer and its treatment might coexist in different symptom clusters in older cancer survivors, compared to younger survivors. The purpose of this analysis was to identify and compare symptom clusters that include CRF between older and younger survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC). Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. In total, 1698 stage I and II CRC survivors diagnosed from 2000 to 2009 completed questionnaires on fatigue and psychological distress. Survivors were categorized in two groups based on age (≤65 versus >65 years) Symptom clusters were assessed using principal component analysis. A sensitivity analysis was performed on the results with categorical principal component analysis. In both age groups, three components including two symptom clusters were identified: an emotional symptom cluster containing anxiety, fatigue, and depression; a pain symptom cluster containing pain and insomnia; and a third component containing dyspnea only. Symptom clusters in survivors of CRC appear to be independent of age. In treating CRC survivors for fatigue, regardless of age, it is advisable to assess depression and anxiety and, if necessary, refer for further diagnosis and treatmen

Evaluation of Allied Healthcare in Patients Recovering from Covid-19: Study Protocol and Baseline Data of s National Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To report the study protocol and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study to evaluate longitudinal recovery trajectories of patients recovering from COVID-19 who have visited a primary care allied health professional. DESIGN: Report of the protocol and baseline characteristics for a prospective cohort study with a mixed-methods approach. PATIENTS: Patients recovering from COVID-19 treated by primary care dietitians, exercise therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and/or speech and language therapists in the Netherlands. METHODS: The prospective study will measure primary outcome domains: participation, health-related quality of life, fatigue, physical functioning, and costs, at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Interviews, on the patients' experiences with allied healthcare, will be held with a subsample of patients and allied health professionals. RESULTS: The cohort comprises 1,451 patients (57% female, mean age 49 (standard deviation 13) years). Preliminary results for the study cohort show that 974 (67%) of the participants reported mild/moderate severity symptoms during the infection period and patients reported severe restrictions in activities of daily living compared with previous research in other patient populations. Both quantitative and qualitative, will provide insight into the recovery of patients who are treated by allied health professionals. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this will be the first comprehensive study to longitudinally evaluate the recovery trajectories and related costs of patients recovering from COVID-19 who are treated by allied health professionals in the Netherlands. This study will provide evidence for the optimal strategy to treat patients recovering from COVID-19 infection, including which patients benefit, and to what extent, from treatment, and which factors might impact their recovery course over time. The preliminary results of this study demonstrated the severity of restrictions and complaints at the start of therapy are substantial

Evaluation of Allied Healthcare in Patients Recovering from Covid-19: Study Protocol and Baseline Data of a National Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To report the study protocol and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study to evaluate longitudinal recovery trajectories of patients recovering from COVID-19 who have visited a primary care allied health professional. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with a mixed-methods approach. PATIENTS: Patients recovering from COVID-19 treated by primary care dietitians, exercise therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and/or speech and language therapists in the Netherlands. METHODS: The prospective study will measure primary outcome domains: participation, health-related quality of life, fatigue, physical functioning, and costs, at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Interviews, on the patients' experiences with allied healthcare, will be held with a subsample of patients and allied health professionals. RESULTS: The cohort comprises 1,451 patients (57% female, mean age 49 (standard deviation 13) years). Preliminary results for the study cohort show that 974 (67%) of the participants reported mild/moderate severity symptoms during the infection period and patients reported severe complaints in activities of daily living compared with previous research in other patient populations. Both quantitative and qualitative, will provide insight into the recovery of patients who are treated by allied health professionals. CONCLUSION: This preliminary report describes how the prospective study aims to longitudinally evaluate the recovery trajectories and related costs of patients recovering from COVID-19 who are treated by 1 or more allied health professionals in the Netherlands. In addition, baseline data of patients in the cohort are presented

The Piper Fatigue Scale-Revised: Translation and psychometric evaluation in Spanish-speaking breast cancer survivors

Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and distressing symptom reported by breast cancer survivors. The primary aim of this study was to translate and evaluate psychometrically for the first time a Spanish version of the Piper Fatigue Scale-Revised (S-PFS-R). Methods One hundred and eleven women with stage I–IIIA breast cancer who had completed their primary cancer therapy in the previous 6 months with the exception of hormone therapy completed the S-PFS-R, the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Fatigue (POMS-F) and Vigor subscales (POMS-V), and bilateral force handgrip testing. Data analysis included test–retest reliability, construct validity, criterion-related validity, and exploratory factor analyses. Results Test–retest reliability was satisfactory (r > 0.86), and all subscales showed moderate to high construct validity estimates [corrected item-subscale correlations (Pearson r = ≥ 0.65)]. The exploratory factor analysis revealed four dimensions with 75.5 % of the common variance explained. The S-PFS-R total score positively correlated with the POMS-F subscale (r = 0.50–0.78) and negatively with the POMS-V subscale (r = −0.13 to −0.44) confirming criterion-related validity. Negative correlations among force handgrip testing, subscales, and total scores were weak (r = −0.26 to −0.29). Conclusions The Spanish version of PFS-R shows satisfactory psychometric properties in a sample of breast cancer survivors. This is the first study to translate the PFS-R into Spanish and further testing is warranted

Evaluation of Allied Healthcare in Patients Recovering from Covid-19:Study Protocol and Baseline Data of s National Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: To report the study protocol and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study to evaluate longitudinal recovery trajectories of patients recovering from COVID-19 who have visited a primary care allied health professional. Design: Report of the protocol and baseline characteristics for a prospective cohort study with a mixed-methods approach. Patients: Patients recovering from COVID-19 treated by primary care dietitians, exercise therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and/or speech and language therapists in the Netherlands. Methods: The prospective study will measure primary outcome domains: participation, health-related quality of life, fatigue, physical functioning, and costs, at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Interviews, on the patients’ experiences with allied healthcare, will be held with a subsample of patients and allied health professionals. Results: The cohort comprises 1,451 patients (57% female, mean age 49 (standard deviation 13) years). Preliminary results for the study cohort show that 974 (67%) of the participants reported mild/moderate severity symptoms during the infection period and patients reported severe restrictions in activities of daily living compared with previous research in other patient populations. Both quantitative and qualitative, will provide insight into the recovery of patients who are treated by allied health professionals. Conclusion: In conclusion, this will be the first comprehensive study to longitudinally evaluate the recovery trajectories and related costs of patients recovering from COVID-19 who are treated by allied health professionals in the Netherlands. This study will provide evidence for the optimal strategy to treat patients recovering from COVID-19 infection, including which patients benefit, and to what extent, from treatment, and which factors might impact their recovery course over time. The preliminary results of this study demonstrated the severity of restrictions and complaints at the start of therapy are substantial