Walking ability in patients with glioblastoma: prognostic value of the Berg Balance Scale and the 10 meter walk test

Predictors of functional outcomes in adults with brain tumor undergoing rehabilitation treatment: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The number of diagnosed brain tumors (BT) has increased in recent years. The results of treatment of patients with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are also improving and their survival rate has increased significantly. Symptoms of the disease and side effects of oncological treatment may reduce the functional performance of patients. It is so important to conduct rehabilitation in this group of patients. The aim of this systematic review is to identify predictors of effective rehabilitation in aspects of physical functioning of BT patients. The study was registered with health and social care, welfare, public health, education, crime, justice and international development departments, where there is a health-related interest outcome PROSPERO. We have received registration number is: CRD42021269398.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

To find relevant publications, the algorithm of keywords ("brain tumor") AND (rehabilitation OR "physical activity" OR exercise OR "physical therapy") was used. The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library. Information was extracted using the PICO format (i.e., participants, intervention, comparison, outcomes).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

the initial search identified a total of 1122 results, and 21 articles met the criteria and were selected for analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results present that rehabilitation is an important and safe cancer encouraging therapy, brings functional benefits. The type of rehabilitation program, especially in BT patients, depends on many factors such as time and type of oncological treatment, general conditions which is strongly related to the general functioning of the patient. It still is a need for clinical research into the safety and effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions already during radio or chemotherapy in this group of cancer patients.

Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Advanced Cancer-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To timely initiate advance care planning in patients with advanced cancer, physicians should identify patients with limited life expectancy. We aimed to identify predictors of mortality. To identify the relevant literature, we searched Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and PubMed databases between January 2000-April 2020. Identified studies were assessed on risk-of-bias with a modified QUIPS tool. The main outcomes were predictors and prediction models of mortality within a period of 3-24 months. We included predictors that were studied in ≥2 cancer types in a meta-analysis using a fixed or random-effects model and summarized the discriminative ability of models. We included 68 studies (ranging from 42 to 66,112 patients), of which 24 were low risk-of-bias, and 39 were included in the meta-analysis. Using a fixed-effects model, the predictors of mortality were: the surprise question, performance status, cognitive impairment, (sub)cutaneous metastases, body mass index, comorbidity, serum albumin, and hemoglobin. Using a random-effects model, predictors were: disease stage IV (hazard ratio [HR] 7.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.00-14.36), lung cancer (HR 2.51; 95% CI 1.24-5.06), ECOG performance status 1+ (HR 2.03; 95% CI 1.44-2.86) and 2+ (HR 4.06; 95% CI 2.36-6.98), age (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.05-1.38), male sex (HR 1.24; 95% CI 1.14-1.36), and Charlson comorbidity score 3+ (HR 1.60; 95% CI 1.11-2.32). Thirteen studies reported on prediction models consisting of different sets of predictors with mostly moderate discriminative ability. To conclude, we identified reasonably accurate non-tumor specific predictors of mortality. Those predictors could guide in developing a more accurate prediction model and in selecting patients for advance care planning.

Clinical outcome assessments of motor status in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery

INTRODUCTION

Clinical outcome assessment (COA) is an important instrument for testing the effectiveness of treatments and for supporting healthcare professionals on decision-making. This review aims to assess the use of COAs, and the evaluation time points of motor status in patients with brain tumor (BT) undergoing surgery.

METHODS

We performed a scoping review through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS databases, looking for original studies in primary or secondary BT, having motor function status as the primary outcome.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

mixed sample, BT recurrence, and an unspecific description of motor deficits evaluation.

RESULTS

Nine studies met the eligibility criteria. There were 449 patients assessed. A total of 18 scales evaluated these BT patients, 12 performance outcomes measures (PerfO) tested motor function. Four scales were the clinician-reported outcome measures (ClinRO) found in this review, two assessed performance status, and two rated ambulation. Two patient-reported outcome measures (PRO) appraised functionality.

CONCLUSIONS

A variety of instruments were used to assess BT patients. Rehabilitation studies are more likely to associate the use of PerfO and PRO concerning motor and functional status. The use of specific validated scales to the BT population was rare. The lack of a standardized approach hampers the quality of BT patient's assessment.

Can Multidisciplinary Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation Provide Sufficient Prevention of Disability in Patients with a Brain Tumor?-A Case-Series Report of Two Programs and A Prospective, Observational Clinical Trial

Brain tumor (BT) patients have a high incidence of disability due to the effects of the tumor itself or oncological treatment. Despite the incidence of neurological and functional deficits caused by BT, rehabilitation of those patients is not as properly established as in patients with other neurological conditions. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation, carried out as an out- or in-patient program, as prevention of disability in BT patients. This was developed as a case-series report of two programs and a prospective, observational clinical study in BT patients who were allocated to inpatient (n = 28) or outpatient (n = 26) rehabilitation programs. The patients were assessed using the Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Brain and Cognitive Function, and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE III) upon admission and after 12 weeks of rehabilitation. Analysis of the results showed that patients in both programs significantly improved their physical functioning scores in daily activities (p < 0.0001). We also observed significant reductions in most post-intervention cognitive complaints (p < 0.05), except for the FIM social functioning and ACE III language functioning in the outpatient group (p > 0.05) in contrast to inpatients (p < 0.001). This is evidence that early multidisciplinary rehabilitation is an effective therapeutic strategy to reduce BT symptoms and disability in this group of patients.

Effect of Contextual Interference in the Practicing of a Computer Task in Individuals Poststroke

OBJECTIVES

Sensory and motor alterations resulting from stroke often impair the performance and learning of motor skills. The present study is aimed at investigating whether and how poststroke individuals and age- and sex-matched healthy controls benefit from a contextual interference effect on the practice of a maze task (i.e., constant vs. random practice) performed on the computer.

METHODS

Participants included 21 poststroke individuals and 21 healthy controls, matched by sex and age (30 to 80 years). Both groups were divided according to the type of the practice (constant or random) presented in the acquisition phase of the learning protocol. For comparison between the groups, types of practice, and blocks of attempts, the analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05) was used.

RESULTS

Poststroke individuals presented longer movement times as compared with the control group. In addition, only poststroke individuals who performed the task with random practice showed improved performance at the transfer phase. Moreover, randomized practice enabled poststroke individuals to perform the transfer task similarly to individuals without any neurological impairment.

CONCLUSION

The present findings indicated a significant effect of contextual interference of practice in poststroke individuals, suggesting that applying randomized training must be considered when designing rehabilitation protocols for this population.

Feasibility of performance-based functional assessment in brain tumour survivors

INTRODUCTION

Rehabilitation and exercise interventions are beneficial for the physical and psychological health of cancer survivors. Current clinic-based performance status measures do not accurately capture the survivor's functioning, or rehabilitation and exercise needs. Our primary objective was to explore the feasibility of performing a performance-based functional assessment with brain tumour survivors as a means to inform needs for rehabilitation and exercise.

METHODS

A feasibility study was conducted with survivors of brain and other neurological cancers attending new patient or follow-up clinics. Survivors were assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), grip strength and Rosow-Breslau Physical Activity Self-Assessment (RSB).

RESULTS

We approached 40 survivors with brain tumours, and 30 agreed to participate in the study. The SPPB was inversely correlated with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores (r = -.73; p < .01), but scores on the SPPB for individuals classified as ECOG 1 ranged from 5 to 12 out of 12, indicating a large variability in functional scores within this ECOG grade.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of objective functional testing is feasible in the neuro-oncology outpatient clinic. The SPPB appears to best inform the functional status of survivors with brain tumours, facilitating more individualised exercise and rehabilitation referrals.