A behavioural intervention increases physical activity in people with subacute spinal cord injury: a randomised trial

AbstractQuestions: For people with subacute spinal cord injury, does rehabilitation that is reinforced with the addition of a behavioural intervention to promote physical activity lead to a more active lifestyle than rehabilitation alone? Design: Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis, and blinded assessors. Participants: Forty-five adults with subacute spinal cord injury who were undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and were dependent on a manual wheelchair. The spinal cord injuries were characterised as: tetraplegia 33%; motor complete 62%; mean time since injury 150 days (SD 74). Intervention: All participants received regular rehabilitation, including handcycle training. Only the experimental group received a behavioural intervention promoting an active lifestyle after discharge. This intervention involved 13 individual sessions delivered by a coach who was trained in motivational interviewing; it began 2 months before and ended 6 months after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was physical activity, which was objectively measured with an accelerometer-based activity monitor 2 months before discharge, at discharge, and 6 and 12 months after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The accelerometry data were analysed as total wheeled physical activity, sedentary time and motility. Self-reported physical activity was a secondary outcome. Results: The behavioural intervention significantly increased wheeled physical activity (overall between-group difference from generalised estimating equation 21minutes per day, 95% CI 8 to 35). This difference was evident 6 months after discharge (28minutes per day, 95% CI 8 to 48) and maintained at 12 months after discharge (25minutes per day, 95% CI 1 to 50). No significant intervention effect was found for sedentary time or motility. Self-reported physical activity also significantly improved. Conclusion: The behavioural intervention was effective in eliciting a behavioural change toward a more active lifestyle among people with subacute spinal cord injury. Trial registration: NTR2424. [Nooijen CFJ, Stam H, Bergen MP, Bongers-Janssen HMH, Valent L, van Langeveld S, Twisk J, Act-Active Research Group, van den Berg-Emons RJG (2016) A behavioural intervention increases physical activity in people with subacute spinal cord injury: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 62: 35–41

Nutritional status of patients with COVID-19 1-y post-ICU stay: A prospective observational study

Objectives: Patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) often experience physical complaints and poor nutritional intake, which negatively affect their nutritional status (NS). The aim of this study was to describe the NS of patients with COVID-19 1-y post-ICU stay. Methods: This was an observational study of adult patients with COVID-19 1-y post-ICU stay. NS assessment (nutrient balance, body composition, and physical status) was performed. We examined nutritional intake and nutrition-related complaints. Nutritional requirements were determined with indirect calorimetry and body composition with bioelectrical impedance. Fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were calculated. Physical status was determined using handgrip strength, the 6-min walk test, and the 1-min sit-to-stand test. Descriptive statistics and paired sample t tests were used for analysis. Results: We included 48 patients (73% men; median age 60 y [IQR 52;65]). Median weight loss during the ICU stay was 13%. One-y post-ICU stay, 12% of weight was regained. Median body mass index was 26 kg/m2 and 23% of the patients were obese (body mass index >30 kg/m2 and high FMI). Of the patients, 50% had high FMI and 19% had low FFMI. Median reported nutritional intake was 90% of measured resting energy expenditure. Nutrition-related complaints were seen in 16%. Percentages of normal values reached in physical tests were 92% of handgrip strength, 95% of 6-min walking distance, and 79% of 1-min sit-to-stand test. Conclusions: Despite almost fully regained weight and good physical recovery in adult patients 1-y post-ICU stay, NS remained impaired because of elevated FMI, even though reported nutritional intake was below the estimated requirements

Cognitive and psychological recovery patterns across different care pathways 12 months after hospitalization for COVID-19: A multicenter cohort study (CO-FLOW)

Background: The comparison of recovery patterns for different care pathways following COVID-19 is necessary for optimizing rehabilitation strategies. Objectives: To evaluate cognitive and psychological outcomes across different care pathways up to 12 months after hospitalization for COVID-19. Methods: CO-FLOW is an ongoing multicenter prospective cohort study with assessments at 3, 6, and 12 months after hospitalization for COVID-19. The main outcomes are cognitive deficits (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, score 43), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Impact of Event Scale-Revised, score ≥33), and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subscale score ≥11). Results: In total, data from 617 participants were analyzed. Mean age was 59.7 (SD 11.4) years and 188 (31%) were female. Significant recovery occurred within the first 6 months post-discharge (p ≤ 0.001). Cognitive deficits persisted in 21% (101/474), and psychological problems in 15% (74/482) of people at 12 months. Significantly improved cognition scores were reported for people who did not receive rehabilitation (‘No-rehab’; 124/617, 20%; mean difference, MD 2.32, 95% CI 1.47 to 3.17; p<0.001), those who received community-based rehabilitation (‘Com-rehab’; 327/617, 53%; MD 1.27, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.78; p<0.001), and those who received medical rehabilitation (‘Med-rehab’; 86/617, 14%; MD 1.63, 95% CI 0.17 to 3.10; p = 0.029). Med-rehab participants experienced more cognitive failure from 3 to 6 months (MD 4.24, 95% 1.63 to 6.84; p = 0.001). Com-rehab showed recovery for PTSD (MD −2.43, 95% −3.50 to −1.37; p<0.001), anxiety (MD −0.67, 95% −1.02 to −0.32; p<0.001), and depression (MD −0.60, 95% −0.96 to −0.25; p<0.001), but symptoms persisted at 12 months. Conclusions: Survivors of COVID-19 showed cognitive and psychological recovery, especially within the first 6 months after hospitalization. Most persistent problems were related to cognitive functioning at 12 months. Recovery differed rehabilitation settings. Additional cognitive or psychological support might be warranted in people who medical or community-based rehabilitation