Evaluation of the site specificity of acute disuse muscle atrophy developed during a relatively short period in critically ill patients according to the activities of daily living level: A prospective observational study

Chinesisation, adaptation and validation of the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool in critically ill patients: a cross-sectional observational study

PURPOSE

To translate and adapt the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool (CPAx) into Chinese version ('CPAx-Chi'), test the reliability and validity of CPAx-Chi, and verify the cut-off point for the diagnosis of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW).

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

METHODS

Forward and back translation, cross-cultural adaptation and pretesting of CPAx into CPAx-Chi were based on the Brislin model. Participants were recruited from the general ICU of five third-grade class-A hospitals in western China. Two hundred critically ill adult patients (median age: 53 years; 64% men) with duration of ICU stay ≥48 hours and Glasgow Coma Scale ≥11 were included in this study. Two researchers simultaneously and independently assessed eligible patients using the Medical Research Council Muscle Score (MRC-Score) and CPAx-Chi.

RESULTS

The content validity index of items was 0.889. The content validity index of scale was 0.955. Taking the MRC-Score scale as standard, the criterion validity of CPAx-Chi was r=0.758 (p<0.001) for researcher A, and r=0.65 (p<0.001) for researcher B. Cronbach's α was 0.939. The inter-rater reliability was 0.902 (p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of CPAx-Chi for diagnosing ICU-AW based on MRC-Score ≤48 were 0.899 (95% CI 0.862 to 1.025) and 0.874 (95% CI 0.824 to 0.925) for researcher B. The best cut-off point for CPAx-Chi for the diagnosis of ICU-AW was 31.5. The sensitivity was 87% and specificity was 77% for researcher A, whereas it was 0.621, 31.5, 75% and 87% for researcher B, respectively. The consistency was high when taking CPAx-Chi ≤31 and MRC-Score ≤48 as the cut-off points for the diagnosis of ICU-AW. Cohen's kappa=0.845 (p=0.02) in researcher A and 0.839 (p=0.04) for researcher B.

CONCLUSIONS

CPAx-Chi demonstrated content validity, criterion-related validity and reliability. CPAx-Chi showed the best accuracy in assessment of patients at risk of ICU-AW with good sensitivity and specificity at a recommended cut-off of 31.

2020 Chitranjan S. Ranawat Award: Perioperative essential amino acid supplementation suppresses rectus femoris muscle atrophy and accelerates early functional recovery following total knee arthroplasty

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of perioperative essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation to prevent rectus femoris muscle atrophy and facilitate early recovery of function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

The study involved 60 patients who underwent unilateral TKA for primary knee osteo-arthritis (OA). This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized control trial with patients randomly allocated to two groups, 30 patients each: the essential amino acid supplementation (9 g daily) and placebo (lactose powder, 9 g daily) groups. Supplementation and placebo were provided from one week before to two weeks after surgery. The area of the rectus femoris muscle were measured by ultrasound imaging one month before surgery and one, two, three, and four weeks postoperatively. The serum albumin level, a visual analogue knee pain score, and mobility were also measured at each time point. The time to recovery of activities of daily living (ADLs) was recorded. Postoperative nutrition and physiotherapy were identical in both groups.

RESULTS

The mean relative change from baseline was as follows for the amino acid group: 116% in rectus femoris muscle area (71% to 206%); 95% in serum albumin (80% to 115%) and 39% in VAS pain (0% to 100%) at four weeks after surgery. These values in the placebo group were: 97% in muscle area (68 to 155); 89% in serum albumin (71% to 100%) and 56% in VAS pain four weeks after surgery (0% to 100%). All changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean time to recovery of ADLs was shorter in the amino acid group compared with the placebo group (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Perioperative essential amino acid supplementation prevents rectus femoris muscle atrophy and accelerates early functional recovery after TKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6 Supple A):10-18.

Determinants of prolonged hospitalization in patients who underwent trans-femoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Introduction

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has grown to be an alternative treatment for severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis (AS) in elderly patients. Although TAVI is a less invasive surgery than surgical aortic valve replacement, some patients may require prolonged hospitalization.

Aim

To find the determinants of prolonged hospitalization in patients who underwent trans-femoral TAVI.

Material and methods

A total of 94 AS patients who underwent trans-femoral TAVI were included as the final study population, and divided into the conventional hospitalization group (≤ 21 days) (n = 74) and prolonged hospitalization group (> 21 days) (n = 20). We compared clinical characteristics between the two groups, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to find the determinants of prolonged hospitalization.

Results

In multivariate logistic regression analysis, moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (OR = 4.49, 95% CI: 1.16-17.47, p = 0.03), taking statins or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) on admission (statins: OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.02-0.71, p = 0.02, ACE inhibitors/ARB: OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.06-0.96, p = 0.04), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (per 15 ml/min/1.73 m² incremental) (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26-0.90, p = 0.02) and current chopsticks user (OR = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.41, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with prolonged hospitalization.

Conclusions

Moderate or severe mitral regurgitation was significantly associated with prolonged hospitalization, while current chopsticks user, eGFR (per 15 ml/min/1.73 m² incremental), taking ACE inhibitors/ARB or statins before the procedure were inversely associated with prolonged hospitalization in patients who underwent trans-femoral TAVI.