A Needs Assessment of Family Physicians to Inform Development of Educational Resources on Antipsychotic Use in Dementia.

OBJECTIVES: Objectives of this study were to (1) assess the needs and preferred resources of Iowa physicians to inform the development of educational resources for best practice dementia care and (2) compare the responses of nursing home medical directors with nonmedical directors. METHODS: Of 498 physicians, 101 (20%) completed and returned the survey. Family physicians were obtained from a list of family physicians from the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners. Respondent answers were summarized and presented as total numbers and percentages in tables. Significant differences between medical directors and nonmedical directors were evaluated using chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Medical directors and nonmedical directors had similar preferences for resources used and information needs. Online resources, pocket guides, a handbook, consulting pharmacists, and facility in-services were the most commonly preferred sources of new information. Medical directors were significantly more aware of the Food and Drug Administration warning on antipsychotic use in dementia and treated more nursing home patients. No differences were observed between groups related to confidence in and use of nondrug strategies instead of antipsychotics to manage behavioral symptoms of dementia. CONCLUSION: The results of this survey illustrate physician preferences for information and resources on the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia. Information was used to inform the development of resources to aid physicians and other health care providers in making decisions about managing these symptoms.

Delirium detection by a novel bispectral electroencephalography device in general hospital.

AIM: Delirium is common and dangerous among elderly inpatients; yet, it is underdiagnosed and thus undertreated. This study aimed to test the diagnostic characteristics of a noninvasive point-of-care device with two-channel (bispectral) electroencephalography (EEG) for the screening of delirium in the hospital. METHODS: Patients admitted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics were assessed for the presence of delirium with a clinical assessment, the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit and Delirium Rating Scale. Subsequently, we obtained a 10-min bispectral EEG (BSEEG) recording from a hand-held electroencephalogram device during hospitalization. We performed power spectral density analysis to differentiate between those patients with and without delirium. RESULTS: Initially 45 subjects were used as a test dataset to establish a cut-off. The BSEEG index was determined to be a significant indicator of delirium, with sensitivity 80% and specificity 87.7%. An additional independent validation dataset with 24 patients confirmed the validity of the approach, with a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 83.3%. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, the BSEEG method was able to distinguish delirious patients from non-delirious patients. Our data showed the feasibility of this technology for mass screening of delirium in the hospital.

Efficacy and safety of voretigene neparvovec (AAV2-hRPE65v2) in patients with RPE65-mediated inherited retinal dystrophy: a randomised, controlled, open-label, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Phase 1 studies have shown potential benefit of gene replacement in RPE65-mediated inherited retinal dystrophy. This phase 3 study assessed the efficacy and safety of voretigene neparvovec in participants whose inherited retinal dystrophy would otherwise progress to complete blindness. METHODS: In this open-label, randomised, controlled phase 3 trial done at two sites in the USA, individuals aged 3 years or older with, in each eye, best corrected visual acuity of 20/60 or worse, or visual field less than 20 degrees in any meridian, or both, with confirmed genetic diagnosis of biallelic RPE65 mutations, sufficient viable retina, and ability to perform standardised multi-luminance mobility testing (MLMT) within the luminance range evaluated, were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to intervention or control using a permuted block design, stratified by age (<10 years and ≥10 years) and baseline mobility testing passing level (pass at ≥125 lux vs <125 lux). Graders assessing primary outcome were masked to treatment group. Intervention was bilateral, subretinal injection of 1·5 × 1011 vector genomes of voretigene neparvovec in 0·3 mL total volume. The primary efficacy endpoint was 1-year change in MLMT performance, measuring functional vision at specified light levels. The intention-to-treat (ITT) and modified ITT populations were included in primary and safety analyses. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00999609, and enrolment is complete. FINDINGS: Between Nov 15, 2012, and Nov 21, 2013, 31 individuals were enrolled and randomly assigned to intervention (n=21) or control (n=10). One participant from each group withdrew after consent, before intervention, leaving an mITT population of 20 intervention and nine control participants. At 1 year, mean bilateral MLMT change score was 1·8 (SD 1·1) light levels in the intervention group versus 0·2 (1·0) in the control group (difference of 1·6, 95% CI 0·72-2·41, p=0·0013). 13 (65%) of 20 intervention participants, but no control participants, passed MLMT at the lowest luminance level tested (1 lux), demonstrating maximum possible improvement. No product-related serious adverse events or deleterious immune responses occurred. Two intervention participants, one with a pre-existing complex seizure disorder and another who experienced oral surgery complications, had serious adverse events unrelated to study participation. Most ocular events were mild in severity. INTERPRETATION: Voretigene neparvovec gene replacement improved functional vision in RPE65-mediated inherited retinal dystrophy previously medically untreatable. FUNDING: Spark Therapeutics.

Validation of the delirium observation screening scale in a hospitalized older population.

Delirium is challenging to diagnose in older populations. It is often reversible, and when detected, treatment can improve patient outcomes. Delirium detection currently relies on trained staff to conduct neurocognitive interviews. The Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DOS) is a screen designed to allow faster, easier identification of delirium. In this validation study, conducted at an academic tertiary care center, we attempted to determine the accuracy of the DOS as a delirium screening tool in hospitalized patients over 64 years old. We compared DOS results to a validated delirium diagnostic tool, the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98. We also assess the user-friendliness of the DOS by nurses via electronic survey. In 101 assessments of 54 patients, the DOS had sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 91% for delirium. The DOS is an accurate and easy way to screen for delirium in older inpatients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:494-497. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Medical manuscripts impact of hospice enrollment on cost and length of stay of a terminal admission.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hospice enrollment at the time of a terminal admission alters the length of stay (LOS) or costs compared with patients not enrolled in hospice. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all nontraumatic inpatient deaths of patients with a previous admission in the preceding 12 months at an academic hospital. RESULTS: 209 patients had a nontraumatic death and an admission in the year prior to the terminal admission. Patients enrolled in hospice had a shorter LOS (P = .02) and lower cost (P < .0001) than patients not enrolled at the time of their terminal admission. CONCLUSIONS: Enrollment in hospice during a terminal admission decreased cost and LOS. Hospice may be a way to provide more cost-effective, appropriate care to dying patients.

Risk factors for delirium in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is common after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and treatment have been shown to improve long-term outcomes. We sought to investigate the relationship between potential risk factors and the development of delirium following HSCT. METHODS: Fifty-four inpatients admitted for HSCT were assessed prospectively for delirium every 2 to 3 days during their inpatient stay using standardized delirium and neuropsychological measures. Self reports of medical history, medical records, and neurocognitive and psychiatric assessments were used to identify risk factors. Both pre- and post-HSCT risk factors were examined. RESULTS: Delirium incidence was 35% and occurred with highest frequency in the 2 weeks following transplant. The only pre-transplantation risk factor was lower oxygen saturation (P = .003). Post-transplantation risk factors for delirium included higher creatinine (P < .0001), higher blood urea nitrogen levels (P = .005), lower creatinine clearance (P = .0006), lower oxygen saturation (P = .001), lower hemoglobin (P = .04), and lower albumin (P = .03). There was no observed association with level of cognitive performance, transplant type, disease severity, medical comorbidity index, age, or conditioning regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Routine laboratory values can assist in the identification of high-risk patients before delirium onset to improve early detection and treatment of delirium after HSCT.

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in adult cancer patients with delirium.

Delirium is associated with a host of negative outcomes, including increased risk of mortality, longer hospital stay, and poor long-term cognitive function. The pathophysiology of delirium is not well understood. Cancer patients undergoing a bone marrow transplant (BMT) are at high risk for developing delirium and Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) could lead to better understanding of the delirium process. Fourteen BMT patients and 10 controls completed (1)H MRS, positioned above the corpus callosum, shortly after delirium onset or at study end if no delirium occurred. In the BMT-delirium group, statistically significantly elevated tCho/tCr was found in contrast to the BMT-no delirium group. The BMT-delirium group also showed statistically significantly lesser NAA/tCho compared with both controls and the BMT-no delirium group. Elevated choline and reduced NAA indicate inflammatory processes and white matter damage as well as neuronal metabolic impairment. Further research is needed to separate the choline peaks, as well as more detailed collection of medication regimens to determine whether a higher choline concentration is a function of the delirium process or cancer treatment effects.

The neuropsychological course of acute delirium in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.

Although delirium is a common medical comorbidity with altered cognition as its defining feature, few publications have addressed the neuropsychological prodrome, profile, and recovery of patients tested during delirium. We characterize neuropsychological performance in 54 hemapoietic stem cell/bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients shortly before, during, and after delirium and in BMT patients without delirium and 10 healthy adults. Patients were assessed prospectively before and after transplantation using a brief battery. BMT patients with delirium performed more poorly than comparisons and those without delirium on cross-sectional and trend analyses. Deficits were in expected areas of attention and memory, but also in psychomotor speed and learning. The patients with delirium did not return to normative "average" on any test during observation. Most tests showed a mild decline in the visit before delirium, a sharp decline with delirium onset, and variable performance in the following days. This study adds to the few investigations of neuropsychological performance surrounding delirium and provides targets for monitoring and early detection; Trails A and B, RBANS Coding, and List Recall may be useful for delirium assessment.

Strategies for finding and negotiating a first position in hospice and palliative medicine.

Securing a first job following training is an exciting and daunting task. Little formal guidance is available and trainees often find themselves confused, uncertain, and overwhelmed. This article is designed to provide a basic framework for fellows and new graduates to search for positions, apply, interview, and negotiate. The article focuses on securing an academic position; however, much of the advice is generalizable to a private-sector position. A short case example will be used to illustrate key points.

The role of the family physician in the referral and management of hospice patients.

Hospice is available for any patient who is terminally ill and chooses a palliative care approach. Because of the close relationship that primary care physicians often have with their patients, they are in a unique position to provide end-of-life care, which includes recognizing the need for and recommending hospice care when appropriate. The hospice benefit covers all expenses related to the terminal illness, including medication, nursing care, and equipment. Hospice should be considered when a patient has New York Heart Association class IV heart failure, severe dementia, activity-limiting lung disease, or metastatic cancer. Timely referrals are beneficial to both patient and hospice because of the cost related to initiating services and the time required to form a therapeutic relationship. Once the decision to refer to hospice is made, the family physician typically continues to be the patient's primary attending physician. The attending physician is expected to remain in charge of the patient's care, write orders, see the patient for office visits, and complete and sign the death certificate. Hospice, in turn, is a valuable physician resource when it comes to medication dosages, symptom management, and communication with patients and their families.