Optimizing the noninvasive ventilation pathway for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease: a systematic review

Initiation of Chronic Non-invasive Ventilation

Initiation of home non-invasive ventilation (NIV) requires careful consideration of the patient's condition, motivation, expectations, wishes, and social circumstances. The decision to start NIV depends on a combination of factors including patient symptoms and objective evidence of nocturnal hypoventilation. A solid understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is key to a systematic and well-balanced clinical approach to titrating NIV. The location where NIV is initiated is not the most relevant issue, provided that it is a comfortable, safe environment in which adequate monitoring can be assured. The majority of patients prefer their own home for treatment initiation.

Advances in symptom management and in monitoring disease progression in motor neuron disease

The aim of supportive management of motor neuron disease is to improve survival, promote good quality of life and patient independence and autonomy whilst preparing for future progression and the end of life. Multidisciplinary specialist care aims to address the multifaceted and interacting biopsychosocial problems associated with motor neuron disease that leads to proven benefits in both survival and quality of life. This chapter will explore principles, structure and details of treatment options, and make recommendations for practice and for future research.

Optimizing breathlessness management in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from a comprehensive systematic review

BACKGROUND

Breathlessness is a prevalent symptom affecting the quality of life (QOL) of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients. This systematic review explored the interventions for controlling breathlessness in ALS patients, emphasizing palliative care (PALC), non-invasive ventilation (NIV), opioids, and non-pharmacological strategies.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was conducted. Eligibility criteria encompassed adults with ALS or motor neuron disease experiencing breathlessness. Outcomes included QOL and symptom control. Study designs comprised qualitative studies, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included, most exhibiting low bias risk, comprising one randomized controlled trial, three cohort studies, two comparative retrospective studies, and two qualitative studies (interviews). Most studies originated from Europe, with one from the United States of America. The participants totaled 3423, with ALS patients constituting 95.6%. PALC consultations significantly improved symptom assessment, advance care planning, and discussions about goals of care. NIV demonstrated efficacy in managing breathlessness, with considerations for device limitations. Opioids were effective, though predominantly studied in non-ALS patients. Non-pharmacological strategies varied in efficacy among patients.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the need for individualized approaches in managing breathlessness in ALS. PALC, NIV, opioids, and non-pharmacological strategies each play a role, with unique considerations. Further research, especially ALS-specific self-management studies, is warranted.

The complexity of multidisciplinary respiratory care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Motor neurone disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no known cure, where death is usually secondary to progressive respiratory failure. Assisting people with ALS through their disease journey is complex and supported by clinics that provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care (MDC). This review aims to apply both a respiratory and a complexity lens to the key roles and areas of practice within the MDC model in ALS. Models of noninvasive ventilation care, and considerations in the provision of palliative therapy, respiratory support, and speech and language therapy are discussed. The impact on people living with ALS of both inequitable funding models and the complexity of clinical care decisions are illustrated using case vignettes. Considerations of the impact of emerging antisense and gene modifying therapies on MDC challenges are also highlighted. The review seeks to illustrate how MDC members contribute to collective decision-making in ALS, how the sum of the parts is greater than any individual care component or health professional, and that the MDC per se adds value to the person living with ALS. Through this approach we hope to support clinicians to navigate the space between what are minimum, guideline-driven, standards of care and what excellent, person-centred ALS care that fully embraces complexity could be.

Educational aims

To highlight the complexities surrounding respiratory care in ALS.To alert clinicians to the risk that complexity of ALS care may modify the effectiveness of any specific, evidence-based therapy for ALS.To describe the importance of person-centred care and shared decision-making in optimising care in ALS.

Factors influencing decisions people with motor neuron disease make about gastrostomy placement and ventilation: A qualitative evidence synthesis

BACKGROUND

People with motor neuron disease (pwMND) are routinely offered gastrostomy feeding tube placement and (non-invasive and invasive) ventilation to manage the functional decline associated with the disease. This study aimed to synthesise the findings from the qualitative literature to understand how individual, clinical team and organisational factors influence pwMND decisions about these interventions.

METHODS

The study design was guided by the enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research (ENTREC) statement. The search of five bibliography databases and an extensive supplementary search strategy identified 27 papers that included qualitative accounts of pwMND, caregivers and healthcare professionals' (HCPs) experiences of making decisions about gastrostomy and ventilation. The findings from each study were included in a thematic synthesis.

FINDINGS

Making decisions about interventions is an emotional rather than simply a functional issue for pwMND. The interventions can signal an end to normality, and increasing dependence, where pwMND consider the balance between quality of life and extending survival. Interactions with multiple HCPs and caregivers can influence the process of decision-making and the decisions made. These interactions contribute to the autonomy pwMND are able to exert during decision-making. HCPs can both promote and threaten pwMND perceived agency over decisions through how they approach discussions about these interventions. Though there is uncertainty over the timing of interventions, pwMND who agree to interventions report reaching a tipping point where they accept the need for change.

CONCLUSION

Discussion of gastrostomy and ventilation options generate an emotional response in pwMND. Decisions are the consequence of interactions with multiple external agents, including HCPs treading a complex ethical path when trying to improve health outcomes while respecting pwMND right to autonomy. Future decision support interventions that address the emotional response and seek to support autonomy have the potential to enable pwMND to make informed and timely decisions about gastrostomy placement and ventilation.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

The lead author collaborated with several patient and participant involvement (PPI) groups with regards to the conceptualisation and design of this project. Decisions that have been influenced by discussions with multiple PPI panels include widening the scope of decisions about ventilation in addition to gastrostomy placement and the perceptions of all stakeholders involved (i.e., pwMND, caregivers and HCPs).

Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis care in the UK

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted healthcare. Our aim was to identify how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) care in the UK has been affected by the pandemic by exploring the experiences of people living with ALS (plwALS), healthcare professionals (HCPs) working with plwALS, and ALS care centers. Three surveys were carried out to explore the experiences of plwALS, HCPs and ALS care centers during the pandemic. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and triangulated with the qualitative data which were analyzed thematically. Responses from 53 plwALS, 73 HCPs and 23 ALS care centers were analyzed. Five main themes were identified: keeping safe, losses, negative emotions, delivering care and alternative care delivery in a pandemic. PlwALS and HCPs felt that care was sub-optimal as a result of the pandemic. Changes to care included longer waiting times and face-to-face appointments being canceled or replaced by virtual consultations. While benefits of virtual consultations were reported, concerns were raised about incomplete clinical assessments and the disruption of provision of testing and interventions. ALS care has changed as a result of the pandemic. Patients have had a lack of face-to-face contact with HCPs and have experienced delays to investigations and treatments. PlwALS and HCPs were concerned about the impact of this change, but the long-term implications remain unclear. We propose recommendations for HCPs caring for plwALS, that will promote continuity of evidenced based care in the context of a pandemic.

The Palliative Care Information Needs of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their Informal Caregivers: A Scoping Review

CONTEXT

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, associated with impaired quality of life for patients and caregivers. As treatment is largely supportive, early involvement of palliative care (PC) is recommended as standard of care. Despite this, literature surrounding PC information needs is limited.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the PC information needs of patients with ALS and their caregivers and identify gaps in the literature.

METHODS

A scoping review using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases (2000-2019) was conducted. Articles examining PC information needs as stated by ALS patients and/or current/bereaved caregivers were included. Studies examining other diagnoses and those focused on healthcare workers were excluded. Thematic synthesis was used to summarize and identify prevalent domains and themes in the literature.

RESULTS

581 articles underwent primary screening, with thirty-two ultimately included (26 original articles, six reviews). Fourteen examined information needs of both patients and caregivers, 13 caregivers only, 5 patients only. The most common PC information needs were as follows: for patients, disease course/prognosis (n = 10), general disease information (n = 9), decision-making (n = 7) and symptoms (n = 6); for caregivers, services and resources (n = 15), disease course/prognosis (n = 14), general disease information (n = 13) and skills (n = 10). There was substantial variability in information needs, both between patients and caregivers and among members of the same group.

CONCLUSION

ALS patients and caregivers have unique and varying PC information needs. Future research should better characterize these needs to improve patient and caregiver quality of life. The delivery of information must be tailored to individual patient or caregiver preferences.

Transitions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Patient and Caregiver Experiences

BACKGROUND

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents many transitions for persons/people with ALS (PwALS) and their caregivers. Transitions are passages from one life phase, condition, or status to another. We used qualitative methods to understand how PwALS and caregivers experience transitions throughout their ALS journey.

METHODS

PwALS and their caregivers were recruited from a multidisciplinary ALS clinic in Edmonton, Canada. We recruited patients at the stage of ALS that home mechanical ventilation, a feeding tube, and/or assistive communication technology had been offered. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS

We interviewed 14 PwALS and 15 caregivers and identified 5 recurring themes. The importance of community was identified by many PwALS and caregivers who expressed feelings of loneliness and isolation. Most caregivers were spouses and couples navigated a change in their relationship roles as one spouse transitioned to becoming a caregiver while the other transitioned to dependency. The caregiver spouses reported a sense of "total responsibility" that encompassed continual vigilance for the PwALS's well-being, managing their household and finances. PwALS and caregivers reported transitioning to reliance on life-sustaining medical devices; early adoption and information on these devices increased their quality of life. Participants also wanted more and earlier information on advanced care planning. PwALS and caregivers identified adapting to new forms of communication as a necessity.

CONCLUSION

ALS presents many transitions for PwALS and caregivers. Understanding these transitions is important for ALS healthcare professionals who seek to implement best care practices.

Using patient-reported symptoms of dyspnea for screening reduced respiratory function in patients with motor neuron diseases

Background

Poor monitoring of respiratory function may lead to late initiation of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with motor neuron diseases (MND). Monitoring could be improved by remotely assessing hypoventilation symptoms between clinic visits. We aimed to determine which patient-reported hypoventilation symptoms are best for screening reduced respiratory function in patients with MND, and compared them to the respiratory domain of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R).

Methods

This prospective multi-center study included 100 patients with MND, who were able to perform a supine vital capacity test. Reduced respiratory function was defined as a predicted supine vital capacity ≤ 80%. We developed a 14-item hypoventilation symptom questionnaire (HYSQ) based on guidelines, expert opinion and think-aloud interviews with patients. Symptoms of the HYSQ were related to dyspnea, sleep quality, sleepiness/fatigue and pneumonia. The diagnostic performances of these symptoms and the ALSFRS-R respiratory domain were determined from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy.

Results

Dyspnea-related symptoms (dyspnea while eating/talking, while lying flat and during light activity) were combined into the MND Dyspnea Scale (MND-DS). ROC curves showed that the MND-DS had the best diagnostic performance, with the highest AUC = 0.72, sensitivity = 75% and accuracy = 71%. Sleep-quality symptoms, sleepiness/fatigue-related symptoms and the ALSFRS-R respiratory domain showed weak diagnostic performance.

Conclusion

The diagnostic performance of the MND-DS was better than the respiratory domain of the ALSFRS-R for screening reduced respiratory function in patients with MND, and is, therefore, the preferred method for (remotely) monitoring respiratory function.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00415-020-10003-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.