Sex Differences in Care Need and Survival in Patients Admitted to Nursing Home Poststroke

Sex Differences in Neurological Emergencies Presenting to Multiple Urban Level 1 Trauma Centers

Previous studies have suggested that there are sex differences in the treatment and outcome of neurological emergencies; however, research identifying the role these sex differences play in the management of neurological emergencies is lacking. More knowledge of the way sex factors into the pathophysiology of neurological emergencies will be helpful in improving outcomes for these patients. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and management of neurological emergencies while evaluating sex differences in the diagnosis and treatment of these emergencies. We analyzed a cohort of 530 adult patients from four level 1 trauma centers over a period of 4 weeks who had a chief complaint of a neurological emergency, including seizures, cerebrovascular events, headache disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and central nervous system infections. Among patients with neurological emergencies, a significantly lower proportion of female patients underwent neurosurgery and were admitted to the intensive care unit compared to male patients, but there were no significant differences between sexes in the time of symptom onset, type of hospital transportation, amount of neuroimaging performed, admission rates, hospital length of stay, and disposition from the emergency department. Although female patients were more likely to have a chief complaint of headache compared to traumatic injuries in male patients, this was not statistically significant. A significantly higher proportion of female patients had health insurance coverage than male patients.

Gender-Specific Differences in Chronic Subdural Hematoma

OBJECTIVE

Few studies concerning aspects of gender-specific differences in chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). This study aimed to determine whether gender-specific differences exist in CSDH regarding clinical, radiological characteristics, and prognosis.

METHODS

A total of 585 patients with CSDH were retrospectively identified. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on gender. Clinical, radiological characteristics, and prognosis were compared using Fisher's exact test or Student t test when applicable. The logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors associated with death in CSDH patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to detect the sensitivity and specificity of independent risk factors.

RESULTS

The average age of women was 71.50±0.92 years, significantly older than 67.30±0.60 years in men. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and uremia were significantly more common in women than in men. Alcohol intake was more in males than in females. CSDH patients in males manifested homogeneous iso-dense and homogeneous hyper-dense was obviously more than that in the females. Although homogeneous hypo-dense and mixed density were significantly more common in the females. The average preoperative hematoma volume of the unilateral CSDH in males was 160.85±3.06 cm3, significantly more than 139.60±5.70 cm3 in females. The mortality of females was 7.4%, higher than 1.7% in males (P=0.004). Female, age, uremia, and recurrence were independent risk factors for death in CSDH patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender-specific differences do exist in CSDH. Female, age, uremia, and recurrence were independent risk factors for death in CSDH patients.

Sex and Gender Bias as a Mechanistic Determinant of Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes

Defined as a prejudice either for or against something, biases at the provider, patient, and societal level all contribute to differences in cardiovascular disease recognition and treatment, resulting in outcome disparities between sexes and genders. Provider bias in the under-recognition of female-predominant cardiovascular disease and risks might result in underscreened and undertreated patients. Furthermore, therapies for female-predominant phenotypes including nonobstructive coronary artery disease and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are less well researched, contributing to undertreated female patients. Conversely, women are less likely to seek urgent medical attention, potentially related to societal bias to put others first, which contributes to diagnostic delays. Furthermore, women are less likely to have discussions around risk factors for coronary artery disease compared with men, partially because they are less likely to consider themselves at risk for heart disease. Provider bias in interpreting a greater number of presenting symptoms, some of which have been labelled as "atypical," can lead to mislabelling presentations as noncardiovascular. Furthermore, providers might avoid discussions around certain therapies including thrombolysis for stroke, and cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure, because it is incorrectly assumed that women are not interested in pursuing options deemed more invasive. To mitigate bias, organizations should aim to increase the visibility and involvement of women in research, health promotion, and clinical and leadership endeavours. More research needs to be done to identify effective interventions to mitigate sex and gender bias and the resultant cardiovascular outcome discrepancies.

Nursing Methods and Experience of Local Anesthesia Patients under Arthroscope

In order to solve the nursing problems of local anesthesia patients under arthroscopy, a nursing method and experience based on local anesthesia patients under arthroscopy was proposed. From June 2019 to May 2021, 478 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia or local anesthesia were retrospectively investigated, including 186 cases (38.9%) under local anesthesia and 292 cases (61.1%) under spinal anesthesia. 2% lidocaine plus epinephrine was injected locally and intra-articular in patients with local anesthesia, and 0.75% bupivacaine in patients with spinal anesthesia. It was found that in the local anesthesia group and spinal anesthesia group, 94.1% (175/186) and 98.3% (287/292) patients did not feel pain during operation. 93.0% (173/186 cases) and 96.2% (281/292 cases) of patients in the two groups were satisfied or very satisfied with the effect of anesthesia, respectively. The experimental results showed that local anesthesia was a simple and effective anesthesia method for knee arthroscopy, which was more reliable and safer than spinal anesthesia. Local anesthesia could be used for knee arthroscopy or cleaning and rinsing, free body removal, or even common meniscinoplasty.

The Allure of Big Data to Improve Stroke Outcomes: Review of Current Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To critically appraise literature on recent advances and methods using "big data" to evaluate stroke outcomes and associated factors.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent big data studies provided new evidence on the incidence of stroke outcomes, and important emerging predictors of these outcomes. Main highlights included the identification of COVID-19 infection and exposure to a low-dose particulate matter as emerging predictors of mortality post-stroke. Demographic (age, sex) and geographical (rural vs. urban) disparities in outcomes were also identified. There was a surge in methodological (e.g., machine learning and validation) studies aimed at maximizing the efficiency of big data for improving the prediction of stroke outcomes. However, considerable delays remain between data generation and publication. Big data are driving rapid innovations in research of stroke outcomes, generating novel evidence for bridging practice gaps. Opportunity exists to harness big data to drive real-time improvements in stroke outcomes.

Stroke-related health problems and associated actions identified with the post-stroke checklist among nursing home residents

Background

Little is known about the needs of permanent nursing home residents after a stroke; comprehensive descriptions of needs are rare. The Post-Stroke Checklist facilitates the identification of health problems. The study aimed to use the Post-Stroke Checklist to identify the extent of health problems, and how they were addressed, in nursing home residents that experienced strokes in Sweden. We also investigated the feasibility of the Checklist in a nursing home context.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional explorative study. Twenty nursing homes in two regions of Sweden participated. We included residents that had experienced a stroke within approximately 3 years and the responsible staff members were approached. Questionnaires were completed during face-to-face meetings with staff members (n = 45) knowledgeable about the residents. Data collection included the Post-Stroke Checklist, Barthel Index, modified Rankin Scale, resident and staff characteristics, and a satisfaction-questionnaire completed by staff.

Results

At the included nursing homes 1061 residents, 22% (n = 239) had a history of stroke, and 6% (n = 65) had experienced strokes during the last 3.5 years. Forty-nine residents were included (41% men, median age, 86 years, range 59–97). Among the health problems identified with the Checklist, activities of daily living (82%) were most common, and spasticity (41%) and pain (29%) were least common. Residents had extensive care needs, with a median of six health problems per resident. The total number of health problems addressed by previous actions i.e., referrals, as suggested in the Checklist, was 124, when recalled by staff. The median Barthel index score was 35. Lack of follow-up after stroke (e.g., by using a checklist) was reported in 17/20 nursing homes. The staff were satisfied with the Post-Stroke Checklist.

Conclusions

We found that more than 1/5 of residents had experienced a stroke; thus, the Post-Stroke Checklist was a useful tool in nursing homes. Half of the residents had more than six health problems, identified with the Post-Stroke Checklist. Extensive needs, combined with a lack of follow-up, indicated a risk of insufficient care. These findings suggested that nursing home routines could be improved with the Post-Stroke Checklist.

Trial registration The project is registered in Research web, project number: 256021.

Provincial legislative and regulatory standards for pain assessment and management in long-term care homes: a scoping review and in-depth case analysis

BACKGROUND

Among Canadian residents living in long-term care (LTC) facilities, and especially among those with limited ability to communicate due to dementia, pain remains underassessed and undermanaged. Although evidence-based clinical guidelines for the assessment and management of pain exist, these clinical guidelines are not widely implemented in LTC facilities. A relatively unexplored avenue for change is the influence that statutes and regulations could exert on pain practices within LTC. This review is therefore aimed at identifying the current landscape of policy levers used across Canada to assess and manage pain among LTC residents and to evaluate the extent to which they are concordant with evidence-based clinical guidelines proposed by an international consensus group consisting of both geriatric pain and public policy experts.

METHODS

Using scoping review methodology, a search for peer-reviewed journal articles and government documents pertaining to pain in Canadian LTC facilities was carried out. This scoping review was complemented by an in-depth case analysis of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario statutes and regulations.

RESULTS

Across provinces, pain was highly prevalent and was associated with adverse consequences among LTC residents. The considerable benefits of using a standardized pain assessment protocol, along with the barriers in implementing such a protocol, were identified. For most provinces, pain assessment and management in LTC residents was not specifically addressed in their statutes or regulations. In Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, regulations mandate the use of the interRAI suite of assessment tools for the assessment and reporting of pain.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of pain and the benefits of implementing standardized pain assessment protocols has been reported in the research literature. Despite occasional references to pain, however, existing regulations do not recommend assessments of pain at the frequency specified by experts. Insufficient direction on the use of specialized pain assessment tools (especially in the case of those with limited ability to communicate) that minimize reliance on subjective judgements was also identified in current regulations. Existing policies therefore fail to adequately address the underassessment and undermanagement of pain in older adults residing in LTC facilities in ways that are aligned with expert consensus.