Adequacy of Nutritional Intakes during the Year after Critical Illness: An Observational Study in a Post-ICU Follow-Up Clinic.

peer reviewedWhether nutritional intakes in critically ill survivors after hospital discharge are adequate is unknown. The aims of this observational study were to describe the energy and protein intakes in ICU survivors attending a follow-up clinic compared to empirical targets and to explore differences in outcomes according to intake adequacy. All adult survivors who attended the follow-up clinic at 1, 3 and 12 months (M1, M3, M12) after a stay in our intensive care unit (ICU) ≥ 7 days were recruited. Average energy and protein intakes over the 7 days before the face-to-face consultation were quantified by a dietician using food anamnesis. Self-reported intakes were compared empirically to targets for healthy people (FAO/WHO/UNU equations), for critically ill patients (25 kcal/kg/day and 1.3 g protein/kg/day). They were also compared to targets that are supposed to fit post-ICU patients (35 kcal/kg/day and 1.5 g protein/kg/day). Blood prealbumin level and handgrip strength were also measured at each timepoint. A total of 206 patients were analyzed (49, 97 and 60 at the M1, M3 and M12, respectively). At M1, M3 and M12, energy intakes were 73.2 [63.3-86.3]%, 79.3 [69.3-89.3]% and 82.7 [70.6-93.7]% of healthy targets (p = 0.074), respectively. Protein intakes were below 0.8 g/kg/day in 18/49 (36.7%), 25/97 (25.8%) and 8/60 (13.3%) of the patients at M1, M3 and M12, respectively (p = 0.018), and the protein intakes were 67.9 [46.5-95.8]%, 68.5 [48.8-99.3]% and 71.7 [44.9-95.1]% of the post-ICU targets (p = 0.138), respectively. Prealbumin concentrations and handgrip strength were similar in patients with either inadequate energy intakes or inadequate protein intakes, respectively. In our post-ICU cohort, up to one year after discharge, energy and protein intakes were below the targets that are supposed to fit ICU survivors in recovery phase

Nutrition During Critical Care: An Audit on Actual Energy and Protein Intakes

peer reviewedIntroduction: Oral nutrition is delivered frequently in intensive care units (ICUs) but rarely studied. The primary objective of this study was to quantify nutrition intakes in patients exclusively orally fed (OF) and in those receiving medical nutrition solutions or both. Methods: Adults who stayed in a mixed ICU for ≥3 days were studied. Nutrition deficits were calculated as the difference between estimated energy or protein targets (determined by weight-based formulas) and actual intakes (recorded on a daily basis by nurses). Total volumes of enteral or parenteral nutrition solutions, propofol, and glucose infused over 24 hours were collected and energy and protein amounts were calculated. In OF patients, food intake at each meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) was estimated using the "one-quarter portion" method. Results: Among the 289 included patients aged 67 (57-75.5) years, 253 were fed and received, on average, 14.3 (7.8-19) kcal/kg/d and 0.53 (0.27-0.8) g/kg/d protein. In OF patients (n = 126), intakes were 9.7 (5.8-19) kcal/kg/d and 0.35 (0.17-0.57) g/kg/d protein. In the subset of OF patients with ICU stay ≥ 7 days (n = 37), respectively, 51% and 94% never received ≥80% of their energy and protein targets. Conclusion: Nutrition intakes were lower by oral feeding compared with other exclusive or combined medical nutrition. Compared with the prescribed amounts, the deficit was larger for proteins than for energ

La spasticité est-elle un facteur de prédictif de l'état nutritionnel des patients en état de conscience altérée ?

Introduction et objectif de l’étude La littérature scientifique concernant l’état nutritionnel des patients en état de conscience altérée (ECA) est à l’heure actuelle très pauvre. Le but de cette étude prospective observationnelle transversale est d’investiguer la relation entre le profil nutritionnel de ces patients et leur état de conscience. Matériel et Méthodes Nous avons collecté et analysé les données cliniques (état de conscience, spasticité) et nutritionnelles (indice de masse corporelle (IMC), apports nutritionnels, biologie) de 80 patients en état d’éveil non répondant (ENR), en état de conscience minimale (ECM) ou en état de conscience minimale émergeant (EECM). Les patients ont été classés selon le résultat de l’analyse nutritionnelle : bien nourri, à risque de dénutrition et dénutri. Résultats De nos 80 patients (43 ± 15 ans), 19 étaient en ENR (24%), 47 en ECM (59%) et 14 en EECM (17%). Parmi eux, 7 (9%) étaient à risque de dénutrition et les 73 autres (91%) étaient bien nourris. L’IMC de ces sujets n’est pas lié à leur niveau d’ECA (p = 0,093), au délai après l’accident (p = 0,12) ou à l’étiologie de leur état neurologique (p = 0,51). Une différence entre l’apport énergétique réellement administré à ces patients et celui qu’ils devraient théoriquement recevoir sur base des recommandations nutritionnelles (30 kcal/kg de poids de calcul) est observée. Les sujets obèses (≥ 30 kg/m²) recevaient 631 ± 328 kcal en moins/jour par rapport aux recommandations et ceux en surpoids (25-29,9 kg/m²), 415 ± 390 kcal/j en moins également. En revanche, les patients avec un IMC faible (< 18,5 kg/m²) recevaient 106 kcal ± 299 kcal/j en plus. La comparaison du niveau de spasticité en fonction de l’IMC révèle une corrélation significative (r = - 0,30, p = 0,009) et montre que les patients les moins spastiques au niveau des membres inférieurs sont plus à risque d’avoir un surpoids (IMC = 27,7 ± 7,5 kg/m²). Au contraire les plus spastiques à ce niveau sont plus à risque d’avoir un IMC plus faible (22,1 ±3,8 kg/m²). Parmi les 9 sujets avec un IMC < 18,5 kg/m², 7 présentent une spasticité sévère, et les 2 autres une spasticité modérée, au niveau des membres inférieurs. L’étude de la différence d’apport énergétique par rapport à la spasticité montre que les patients non spastiques recevaient 297 ± 318 kcal/j en moins par rapport aux recommandations, contre 222 ± 430 kcal/j pour une spasticité moyenne et 41 ± 406 kcal/j pour des niveaux de spasticité plus élevés. Conclusion Nos résultats indiquent que la majorité des patients ECA ont un état nutritionnel satisfaisant. Cet état nutritionnel ne semble pas lié au niveau de conscience, ni au délai ou à la cause de leur accident. Les patients les moins spastiques présentent des critères de surpoids malgré un apport énergétique considérablement réduit par rapport aux recommandations nutritionnelles. En revanche, un niveau élevé de spasticité est associé à un niveau de sous poids (IMC < 18,5 kg/m²) en dépit d’un apport énergétique supérieur à l’objectif préconisé par ces recommandations. Des analyses complémentaires sont en cours (calorimétrie indirecte, impédancemétrie, étude de la spasticité et imagerie métabolique) afin de mieux comprendre les mécanismes sous-jacents

Revisiting the symptom iceberg in today's primary care: results from a UK population survey

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Genetic Testing in Parkinson's Disease

Genetic testing for persons with Parkinson's disease is becoming increasingly common. Significant gains have been made regarding genetic testing methods, and testing is becoming more readily available in clinical, research, and direct-to-consumer settings. Although the potential utility of clinical testing is expanding, there are currently no proven gene-targeted therapies, but clinical trials are underway. Furthermore, genetic testing practices vary widely, as do knowledge and attitudes of relevant stakeholders. The specter of testing mandates financial, ethical, and physician engagement, and there is a need for guidelines to help navigate the myriad of challenges. However, to develop guidelines, gaps and controversies need to be clearly identified and analyzed. To this end, we first reviewed recent literature and subsequently identified gaps and controversies, some of which were partially addressed in the literature, but many of which are not well delineated or researched. Key gaps and controversies include: (1) Is genetic testing appropriate in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals without medical actionability? (2) How, if at all, should testing vary based on ethnicity? (3) What are the long-term outcomes of consumer- and research-based genetic testing in presymptomatic PD? (4) What resources are needed for clinical genetic testing, and how is this impacted by models of care and cost-benefit considerations? Addressing these issues will help facilitate the development of consensus and guidelines regarding the approach and access to genetic testing and counseling. This is also needed to guide a multidisciplinary approach that accounts for cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic factors in developing testing guidelines.</p

Knee complaints vary with age and gender in the adult population. Population-based reference data for the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)

BACKGROUND: Self-reported knee complaints may vary with age and gender. Reference data from the adult population would help to better interpret the outcome of interventions due to knee complaints. The objectives of the present study were to describe the variation of self-reported knee pain, function and quality of life with age and gender in the adult population and to establish population-based reference data for the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). METHODS: Population-based cohort retrieved from the national population register. The knee-specific Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was mailed to 840 subjects aged 18–84 yrs. RESULTS: 68% response rate. Women in the age group 55–74 reported more knee-related complaints in all the KOOS subscales than age-matched men. The differences were significant for the subscales Pain (p = 0.027), Symptoms (p = 0.003) and ADL function (p = 0.046). In men, worse ADL and Sport and Recreation function was seen in the oldest age group 75–84 years compared to the younger age groups (p < 0.030). In women, worse Pain (p < 0.007), ADL (p < 0.030), Sport and Recreation (p < 0.001) and QOL (p < 0.002) were seen already in the age group 55–74 compared to the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: We found pain and other symptoms, physical function, and knee-related quality of life to vary with age and gender implying the use of age- and gender matched reference values for improved understanding of the outcome after interventions due to knee injury and knee OA

Incongruous consultation behaviour: results from a UK-wide population survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Symptom characteristics are strong drivers of care seeking. Despite this, incongruous consultation behaviour occurs and has implications for both individuals and health-care services. The aim of this study was to determine how frequently incongruous consultation behaviour occurs, to examine whether it is more common for certain types of symptoms and to identify the factors associated with being an incongruous consulter.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An age and sex stratified random sample of 8,000 adults was drawn from twenty UK general practices. A postal questionnaire was used to collect detailed information on the presence and characteristics of 25 physical and psychological symptoms, actions taken to manage the symptoms, general health, attitudes to symptom management and demographic/socio-economic details. Two types of incongruous consultation behaviour were examined: i) consultation with a GP for symptoms self-rated as low impact and ii) no consultation with a GP for symptoms self-rated as high impact.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A fifth of all symptoms experienced resulted in consultation behaviour which was incongruous based on respondents' own rating of the symptoms' impact. Low impact consultations were not common, although symptoms indicative of a potentially serious condition resulted in a higher proportion of low impact consultations. High impact non-consultations were more common, although there was no clear pattern in the type of associated symptoms. Just under half of those experiencing symptoms in the previous two weeks were categorised as an incongruous consulter (low impact consulter: 8.3%, high impact non-consulter: 37.1%). Employment status, having a chronic condition, poor health, and feeling that reassurance or advice from a health professional is important were associated with being a low impact consulter. Younger age, employment status, being an ex-smoker, poor health and feeling that not wasting the GPs time is important were associated with being a high impact non-consulter.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is one of the first studies to examine incongruous consultation behaviour for a range of symptoms. High impact non-consultations were common and may have important health implications, particularly for symptoms indicative of serious disease. More research is now needed to examine incongruous consultation behaviour and its impact on both the public's health and health service use.</p