Advances in breathlessness support services for people with serious illness.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Breathlessness remains a common and distressing symptom among people with serious illness, particularly in advanced disease. This review synthesises recent advances in the development, characteristics, and outcomes of breathlessness support services. RECENT FINDINGS: The expanding body of evidence regarding breathlessness support services has broadened and strengthened our understanding of clinical and cost-effectiveness. The expansion of these services, into diverse settings and including digital delivery, has augmented their reach and accessibility to a wider population. Additionally, there is increasing attention to the psychological aspects of breathlessness and its management, including the challenges of optimising breathlessness support services for long-term benefit. SUMMARY: Recent studies have made substantial progress in enhancing our knowledge of breathlessness support services and their impact on people with serious illness. Innovations extending services into new countries and settings, including use of digital platforms for intervention delivery, plus increased recognition of psychological mechanisms, have the potential to support more people with serious illness to live as best as possible with breathlessness.

Practice review: Pharmacological management of severe chronic breathlessness in adults with advanced life-limiting diseases.

BACKGROUND: Severe and refractory chronic breathlessness is a common and burdensome symptom in patients with advanced life-limiting disease. Its clinical management is challenging because of the lack of effective interventions. AIM: To provide practice recommendations on the safe use of pharmacological therapies for severe chronic breathlessness. DESIGN: Scoping review of (inter)national guidelines and systematic reviews. We additionally searched for primary studies where no systematic review could be identified. Consensus on the recommendations was reached by 75% approval within an international expert panel. DATA SOURCES: Searches in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Guideline International Network until March 2023. Inclusion of publications on the use of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, opioids or corticosteroids for chronic breathlessness in adults with cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease or chronic heart failure. RESULTS: Overall, the evidence from eight guidelines, 14 systematic reviews and 3 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on antidepressants is limited. There is low quality evidence favouring opioids in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer and interstitial lung disease. For chronic heart failure, evidence is inconclusive. Benzodiazepines should only be considered for anxiety associated with severe breathlessness. Antidepressants and corticosteroids should not be used. CONCLUSION: Management of breathlessness remains challenging with only few pharmacological options with limited and partially conflicting evidence. Therefore, pharmacological treatment should be reserved for patients with advanced disease under monitoring of side effects, after optimisation of the underlying condition and use of evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions as first-line treatment.

Mirtazapine to alleviate severe breathlessness in patients with COPD or interstitial lung diseases (BETTER-B): an international, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 mixed-method trial.

BACKGROUND: Breathlessness frequently becomes severe among people with respiratory disease. Mirtazapine, a widely used antidepressant, has shown promise in the modulation of respiratory sensation and the response to it, as well as reducing feelings of panic, which often accompanies breathlessness. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of mirtazapine to alleviate severe persisting breathlessness. METHODS: This international, multicentre, phase 3, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial across 16 centres in seven countries (Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, and the UK), recruited adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung diseases, or both, and grade 3 or 4 of the modified Medical Research Council breathlessness scale. Consenting participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive oral mirtazapine or matching placebo for 56 days. Randomisation was by minimisation. The initial mirtazapine dose was 15 mg, escalating to a maximum of 45 mg per day, tapered at treatment end. Participants, caregivers, assessors, and investigators were masked to group assignment. The primary outcome was worst breathlessness in the preceding 24 h measured on a 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS), at 56 days post-treatment start, with follow-up to 180 days. The primary analysis was performed in the modified intention-to-treat population using multivariable multi-level repeated measures model. This trial was registered with ISRCTN (ISRCTN10487976 and ISRCTN15751764 [Australia and New Zealand]) and EudraCT (2019-002001-21) and is complete. FINDINGS: Between Feb 4, 2021 and March 28, 2023, we enrolled 225 eligible participants (148 men and 77 women, 113 to the mirtazapine group and 112 to the placebo group). The median age was 74 years (IQR 67-78). No evidence of a difference was found in worst breathlessness at day 56 between mirtazapine and placebo (difference in adjusted mean NRS score was 0·105 [95% CI -0·407 to 0·618]; p=0·69). Although the study was underpowered, the primary endpoint effect did not reach the pre-specified treatment effect of 0·55 for worst breathlessness score reduction that the study was powered to detect for the primary analysis. There were 215 adverse reactions in 72 (64%) of 113 participants in the mirtazapine group versus 116 in 44 (40%) of 110 participants in the placebo group; 11 serious adverse events in six (5%) participants in the mirtazapine group versus eight in seven (6%) participants in the placebo group; and one (1%) suspected unexpected serious adverse reaction in the mirtazapine group. At day 56, there were three deaths in the mirtazapine group and two deaths in the placebo group. At day 180, there were seven deaths in the mirtazapine group and 11 deaths in the placebo group. INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggested that mirtazapine of doses 15 to 45 mg daily over 56 days does not improve severe breathlessness among patients with COPD or interstitial lung diseases and might cause adverse reactions. Based on these findings, we do not recommend mirtazapine as a treatment to alleviate severe breathlessness. FUNDING: EU Horizon 2020 (grant agreement No. 825319); Cicely Saunders International Breathlessness Programme; National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration South London; Australian National Health and Medical Research Council-EU (application ID: APP1170731).

Sarcopenia interventions in long-term care facilities targeting sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity are independent risk factors for sarcopenia for long-term care facility residents. Understanding the components, mechanisms and context of interventions that target change in these risk factors can help optimize sarcopenia management approaches. This study aimed to identify, appraise and synthesize the interventions targeting sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity, construct a Theory of Change logic model, inform complex sarcopenia intervention development and identify areas for improvement. METHODS: Eight electronic databases, including Embase and Web of Science, were searched for eligible interventional studies from inception until February 2024. Narrative synthesis was used. The Theory of Change was applied to develop a logic model presenting the synthesized results. A Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used for quality appraisal. RESULTS: The study included 21 articles involving 1014 participants, with mean ages ranging from 72.5 to 90.4 years. The proportion of female participants ranged from 8.0% to 100.0%. The applied sarcopenia diagnosis criteria varied, including those of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. The overall risk of bias in the included studies was moderate. Interventions primarily targeted physical inactivity, with resistance training being the most common intervention type. The reporting of intervention adherence was insufficient (only 11 out of 21 included studies provided adherence reports), and adherence overall and by intervention type was not possible to discern due to inconsistent criteria for high adherence across these studies. Four categories of intervention input were identified: educational resources; exercise equipment and accessories; monitoring and tailoring tools; and motivational strategies. Intervention activities fell into five categories: determining the intervention plan; educating; tailoring; organizing, supervising, assisting and motivating; and monitoring. While sarcopenia-related indicators were commonly used as desired outcomes, intermediate outcomes (i.e., sedentary time and physical activity level) and other long-term outcomes (i.e., economic outcomes) were less considered. Contextual factors affecting intervention use included participant characteristics (i.e., medical condition and education level) and intervention provider characteristics (i.e., trustworthiness). CONCLUSIONS: The findings led to the development of a novel logic model detailing essential components for interventions aimed at managing sarcopenia in long-term care facilities, with a focus on addressing sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity. Future sarcopenia interventions in long-term care facilities should fully attend to sedentary behaviour, enhance adherence to interventions through improved education, monitoring, tailoring and motivation and establish an agreed standard set of outcome measures.

Non-pharmacological interventions targeting mobility among people with advanced cancer: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To synthesise evidence evaluating non-pharmacological interventions targeting mobility among people with advanced cancer, considering the type, efficacy and contextual factors that may influence outcome. METHODS: Systematic review of studies of non-pharmacological interventions in adults (≥ 18 years) with advanced (stage III-IV) cancer, and assessing mobility using clinical or patient-reported outcome measures. Searches were conducted across three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL) up to June 2024. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools and contextual factors were evaluated through the Context and Implementation of Complex Interventions framework. A narrative synthesis was conducted due to clinical heterogeneity of included studies. RESULTS: 38 studies encompassing 2,464 participants were included. The most frequent mobility outcome measure was the 6-min walk test (26/38 studies). Exercise was the most common intervention, (33 studies: 27 aerobic and resistance, 5 aerobic, 1 resistance versus aerobic training) and improvements in mobility were found in 21/33 outcomes. Electrotherapy interventions led to significant improvements in mobility in 3/5 studies. Geographical factors (e.g. distance, transport, parking requirements) potentially limited participation in 18/38 studies. A lack of ethnic diversity among populations was evident and language proficiency was an inclusion criterion in 12 studies. CONCLUSION: Exercise and neuromuscular electrical stimulation appear to improve mobility outcomes in advanced cancer. The evaluation of other non-pharmacological interventions targeting mobility should consider access and inclusivity, and be adaptable to the needs of this population.

Patient and carer experiences of cancer cachexia and its management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To explore the contributions of recent qualitative literature in progressing understanding of the experiences of cancer cachexia, and its management, from the perspectives of patients and unpaid/family carers. RECENT FINDINGS: Challenges with conducting everyday activities, maintaining independence, and continuing usual roles within the family are sources of distress. Patients and carers value individualization, flexibility, and carer involvement in physical activity/exercise interventions. In psychosocial/educational interventions that were positively perceived, the opportunity to talk about cachexia was appreciated, leading to improved health literacy, awareness about nutrition, and relationships with food. However, the general patient and carer experience around clinical acknowledgement and management of cachexia remains poor. SUMMARY: Eating-related distress and conflicts, lack of understanding about cachexia, and the visibility of weight loss remain recurring themes amongst literature on experiences of cancer cachexia. Studies exploring preferences for, and experiences of, interventions have primarily focused on physical activity or exercise. Psychosocial/educational and physical activity/exercise interventions are valued and perceived to alleviate some of the key quality of life issues amongst patients with cancer cachexia and their unpaid/family carers.

Longitudinal change in ultrasound-derived rectus femoris cross-sectional area in COPD.

Background: Skeletal muscle dysfunction is common in COPD. Ultrasound-derived rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA) is a radiation free, non-invasive measure of muscle bulk that relates to quadriceps strength in people with COPD. However, there are limited longitudinal data for RFCSA, and it is not known whether longitudinal change in RFCSA reflects change in quadricep strength, exercise capacity, lower limb function or muscle mass. We aimed to quantify longitudinal change in ultrasound-derived RFCSA and assess its relationship with change in quadriceps maximal voluntary contraction (QMVC), incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), five-repetition sit-to-stand (5STS) and fat-free mass (FFM) over 12 months in people with COPD. Methods: We measured ultrasound-derived RFCSA, QMVC, ISWT, 5STS and FFM (measured by bioelectric impedance analysis) at baseline and 12 months in 169 people with stable COPD. Change was correlated using Pearson's or Spearman's coefficients. Results: Baseline characteristics: mean±sd age 70.4±9.4 years; FEV1 53.3±18.9% predicted. Over the course of 12 months mean RFCSA change was -33.7 mm2 (99% CI -62.6- -4.9 mm2; p=0.003) representing a mean±sd percentage change of -1.8±33.5%. There was a weak correlation between change in RFCSA and FFM (r=0.205, p=0.009), but not with change in QMVC, ISWT or 5STS. Conclusion: There is a statistically significant decrease in ultrasound-derived RFCSA over 12 months in people with stable COPD, but this decrease does not correlate with change in quadriceps strength, exercise capacity, FFM or lower limb function.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment for people with both COPD and frailty starting pulmonary rehabilitation: a mixed-methods feasibility trial.

Introduction: Many people with COPD experience frailty. Frailty increases risk of poor health outcomes, including non-completion of pulmonary rehabilitation. Integrated approaches to support people with COPD and frailty throughout and following rehabilitation are indicated. The aim of the present study was to determine the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of integrating comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) for people with COPD and frailty starting pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods: A multicentre mixed-methods randomised controlled feasibility trial ("Breathe Plus"; ISRCTN13051922) was carried out. People with COPD, aged ≥50 years, Clinical Frailty Scale ≥5 and referred for pulmonary rehabilitation were randomised 1:1 to usual pulmonary rehabilitation, or pulmonary rehabilitation plus CGA. Remote intervention delivery was used during COVID-19 restrictions. Outcomes (physical, psychosocial, service use) were measured at baseline, 90 and 180 days, alongside process data and qualitative interviews. Results: Recruitment stopped at 31 participants (mean±sd age 72.4±10.1 years, 68% Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale 4-5), due to COVID-19-related disruptions. Recruitment (46% eligible recruited) and retention (87% at 90- and 180-day follow-up) were acceptable. CGAs occurred on average 60.5 days post-randomisation (range 8-129) and prompted 46 individual care recommendations (median 3 per participant, range 0-12), 65% of which were implemented during follow-up. The most common domains addressed during CGA were nutrition and cardiovascular health. Participants valued the holistic approach of CGA but questioned the optimal time to introduce it. Conclusion: Integrating CGA alongside pulmonary rehabilitation is feasible and identifies unmet multidimensional need in people with COPD and frailty. Given challenges around timing and inclusivity, the integration of geriatric and respiratory care should not be limited to rehabilitation services.

Body weight and composition endpoints in cancer cachexia clinical trials: Systematic Review 4 of the cachexia endpoints series.

Significant variation exists in the outcomes used in cancer cachexia trials, including measures of body composition, which are often selected as primary or secondary endpoints. To date, there has been no review of the most commonly selected measures or their potential sensitivity to detect changes resulting from the interventions being examined. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the frequency and diversity of body composition measures that have been used in cancer cachexia trials. MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched between January 1990 and June 2021. Eligible trials examined adults (≥18 years) who had received an intervention aiming to treat or attenuate the effects of cancer cachexia for >14 days. Trials were also of a prospective controlled design and included body weight or at least one anthropometric, bioelectrical or radiological endpoint pertaining to body composition, irrespective of the modality of intervention (e.g., pharmacological, nutritional, physical exercise and behavioural) or comparator. Trials with a sample size of <40 patients were excluded. Data extraction used Covidence software, and reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance. This review was prospectively registered (PROSPERO: CRD42022276710). A total of 84 clinical trials, comprising 13 016 patients, were eligible for inclusion. Non-small-cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer were studied most frequently. The majority of trial interventions were pharmacological (52%) or nutritional (34%) in nature. The most frequently reported endpoints were assessments of body weight (68 trials, n = 11 561) followed by bioimpedance analysis (BIA)-based estimates (23 trials, n = 3140). Sixteen trials (n = 3052) included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)-based endpoints, and computed tomography (CT) body composition was included in eight trials (n = 841). Discrepancies were evident when comparing the efficacy of interventions using BIA-based estimates of lean tissue mass against radiological assessment modalities. Body weight, BIA and DEXA-based endpoints have been most frequently used in cancer cachexia trials. Although the optimal endpoints cannot be determined from this review, body weight, alongside measurements from radiological body composition analysis, would seem appropriate. The choice of radiological modality is likely to be dependent on the trial setting, population and intervention in question. CT and magnetic resonance imaging, which have the ability to accurately discriminate tissue types, are likely to be more sensitive and provide greater detail. Endpoints are of particular importance when aligned with the intervention's mechanism of action and/or intended patient benefit.

Establishing a research partnership to investigate functional loss and rehabilitation towards the end of life.

Background: Functional loss, the inability to perform necessary or desired tasks, is a common consequence of life-limiting illnesses and associated symptoms (pain, fatigue, breathlessness, etc.) and causes suffering for patients and families. Rehabilitation, a set of interventions designed to address functional loss, is recognised as essential within palliative care, as it can improve quality of life and reduce care costs. However, not everyone has equal access to rehabilitation. Despite limited life expectancy or uncertain ability to benefit from interventions, palliative rehabilitation services are often absent. This is partly due to a lack of high-quality research around optimal models of rehabilitation. Research in this area is methodologically challenging and requires multidisciplinary and cross-speciality collaboration. Aim and objectives: We aimed to establish and grow a United Kingdom research partnership across diverse areas, commencing with partners from Edinburgh, East Anglia, Lancashire, Leeds, London and Nottingham, around the topic area of functional loss and rehabilitation in palliative and end-of-life care. The objectives were to (1) develop a multidisciplinary, cross-speciality research partnership, (2) generate high-priority unanswered research questions with stakeholders, (3) co-design and submit high-quality competitive research proposals, including (4) sharing topic and methodological expertise, and (5) to build capacity and capability to deliver nationally generalisable studies. Activities: The partnership was established with professionals from across England and Scotland with complementary areas of expertise including complex palliative and geriatric research, physiotherapy, nursing, palliative medicine and psychology. Research questions were generated through a modified version of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative, which allowed for the collation and refinement of research questions relating to functional loss and rehabilitation towards the end of life. Partnership members were supported through a series of workshops to transform research ideas into proposals for submission to stage one calls by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The partnership not only supported students, clinicians and public members with training opportunities but also supported clinicians in securing protected time from clinical duties to allow them to focus on developing local research initiatives. Reflections: Through our partnership we established a network that offered researchers, clinicians, students and public members the chance to develop novel skills and explore opportunities for personal and professional development around the topic area of functional loss and rehabilitation in palliative and end-of-life care. The partnership was crucial to foster collaboration and facilitate exchange of ideas, knowledge and experiences to build joint research study proposals. Funding: This article presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) programme as award number NIHR135171. A plain language summary of this article is available on the NIHR Journals Library website https://doi.org/10.3310/PTHC7598.

'Functional loss' describes a person becoming unable to do the everyday activities they would like or need to do. Life-limiting illnesses and their symptoms can often lead to functional loss: a common source of suffering for patients and their families. Rehabilitation aims to support a person to carry out everyday activities that have been affected by illness. This should be an important part of providing good palliative care. However, in practice, not everyone has equal access to rehabilitation and there is a lack of high-quality research in this area. The Palliative Care Rehabilitation Partnership was created to begin to address these challenges. This partnership completed activities in five key areas: Establishing the partnership ­ Brought together experts from different fields, like palliative care, care for older people and research, to improve rehabilitation for people with life-limiting illnesses. Generating research questions ­ Collected and ranked research questions about functional loss and rehabilitation from various stakeholders, including patients, to identify key research areas. Developing research proposals ­ Helped, through workshops, turn these research questions into detailed proposals for funding. This involved refining ideas, discussing how best to conduct the studies and getting feedback. Building capacity and capability ­ Provided training opportunities for its members, including clinicians, researchers and patients, to improve their research and rehabilitation skills. It also offered mentorship to people with dual roles as clinicians and researchers. Service mapping ­ Improved our understanding of services for functional loss and rehabilitation across different healthcare settings. The Palliative Care Rehabilitation Partnership has made gains in addressing the complex issues of functional loss and rehabilitation in people with life-limiting illnesses. The partnership has supported the development of at least three new research proposals that will be used to apply for future funding.

Implementation of frailty screening for older people living with HIV in Brighton, UK.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the implementation of frailty screening in people living with HIV (PLWH) in a large urban cohort of patients in Brighton, UK. METHODS: Focus group discussions with HIV professionals and PLWH interviews helped inform the design and implementation of the frailty screening pathway in the clinic. Data were collected from PLWH aged over 60 years attending their HIV annual health check from July 2021 to January 2023 (n = 590), who were screened for frailty by nurses using the FRAIL scale. We assessed the proportions of PLWH who screened as frail, prefrail or robust and compared patient characteristics across groups. All PLWH identified as frail were offered a comprehensive geriatric assessment delivered by a combined HIV geriatric clinic, and uptake was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 456/590 (77.3%) PLWH aged over 60 years were screened for frailty. Median age and time since HIV diagnosis (range) for those screened were 66 (60-99) years and 21 (0-32) years, respectively. In total, 56 (12.1%) of those screened were identified as frail, 118 (25.9%) as prefrail and 282 (61.8%) as robust. A total of 10/56 (18%) people identified as frail declined an appointment in the geriatric clinic. Compared with non-frail individuals, frail PLWH had been living with HIV for longer and had a greater number of comorbidities and comedications but were not chronologically older. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing frailty screening in PLWH over 60 years old is feasible in a large cohort of PLWH, as recommended by the European AIDS Clinical Society. More research is needed to determine if frailty screening can improve clinical outcomes of older PLWH and the use of the comprehensive geriatric assessment within HIV services.

Predictors of increasing disability in activities of daily living among people with advanced respiratory disease: a multi-site prospective cohort study, England UK.

PURPOSE: Disability in activities of daily living (ADL) is a common unmet need among people with advanced respiratory disease. Rehabilitation could help prolong independence, but indicators for timely intervention in this population are lacking. This study aimed to identify trajectories of disability in ADLs over time, and predicting factors, in advanced respiratory disease. METHOD: Multi-site prospective cohort study in people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD), recruited from hospital or community services, throughout England. Disability in basic (Barthel Index) and instrumental (Lawton-Brody IADL Scale) ADLs were assessed monthly over six months. Visual graphical analysis determined individual trajectories. Multivariate logistic regression examined predictors of increasing disability in basic and instrumental ADLs. FINDINGS: Between March 2020 and January 2021, we recruited participants with a diagnosis of NSCLC (n = 110), COPD (n = 72), and ILD (n = 19). 151 participants completed ≥3 timepoints and were included in the longitudinal analysis. Mobility limitation was an independent predictor of increasing disability in instrumental ADLs (odds ratio, 1⋅41 [CI: 1⋅14-1⋅74], p = 0⋅002). CONCLUSION: Mobility limitation could be used as a simple referral criterion across people with advanced respiratory disease to ensure timely rehabilitation that targets independence in ADLs.

To our knowledge this is the first prospective cohort study of trajectories of disability in activities of daily living (ADL) in advanced respiratory disease, including recruitment during the Covid-19 pandemic.It adds to existing evidence by identifying individual variability in trajectories of ADL disability which are undetected at group level.The identification of mobility limitation as a predictor of increasing ADL disability, while controlling for malignant or non-malignant respiratory disease, is novel and has practical utility.Our findings have implications for clinical care, as early identification of functional decline through use of mobility limitation tools could flag early referral to rehabilitation services, potentially preventing or delaying forthcoming functional decline and avoiding reactive crisis management.Mobility limitation is a predictor of increasing disability in activities of daily living in advanced disease, which could be used to flag early referral to rehabilitation services, to help prevent or delay forthcoming functional decline and avoid reactive crisis management.

The association between sedentary behaviour and sarcopenia in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behaviour is considered to contribute to sarcopenia when combined with physical inactivity. Whether sedentary behaviour is independently associated with sarcopenia remains controversial. The aim of this study is to explore the association between sedentary behaviour and sarcopenia in older adults in community and long-term care facility settings. METHODS: Eight electronic databases including MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Wanfang were searched from inception until August 2023. The review included cross-sectional and longitudinal studies concerning the association between sedentary behaviour and sarcopenia among participants over 60 years old. Evidence was pooled by both random-effects meta-analysis and narrative synthesis. Subgroup analyses explored variation according to adjustment of physical activity, settings, and measurements of sedentary behaviour and sarcopenia. Quality assessment for individual studies was performed with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. RESULTS: Seventeen articles (16 cross-sectional studies and 1 longitudinal study) of 25,788 participants from community or long-term care facility settings were included. The overall quality of the included studies was rated high. Meta-analysis of 14 cross-sectional studies showed that sedentary behaviour was independently positively associated with sarcopenia: pooled odd ratio 1.36 (95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.58). The independent positive association remained in subgroup analyses by adjustment of physical activity, settings, and measurements of sedentary behaviour and sarcopenia. The narrative analysis corroborated the findings of the meta-analysis and provided additional evidence suggesting that interruptions in sedentary periods were linked to a decreased likelihood of developing sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the hypothesis that sedentary behaviour is independently positively associated with sarcopenia in older adults, providing vital indications for the development of strategies to prevent sarcopenia. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: The systematic review protocol has been registered with the PROSPERO database (CRD42022311399).

Using volunteers to improve access to community rehabilitation in palliative care: the St Christopher's Living Well at Home Team.

Background: UK hospices often provide outpatient rehabilitation services for people with advanced progressive illness. However, some people are unable to travel, leading to inequity in rehabilitation access. Objectives: The Living Well at Home Team (LWAHT) at St Christopher's Hospice aimed to evaluate whether using volunteers to support rehabilitation in peoples' homes improved the reach of rehabilitation for people living in underserved localities and if it supported people to optimise their functional independence. Methods: This service improvement project evaluated hospice rehabilitation uptake during the implementation of volunteer-supported community rehabilitation. Following assessment by an LWAHT therapist, eligible people were matched with a trained volunteer who supported four to eight rehabilitation sessions in the person's home. The evaluation assessed uptake of the rehabilitation sessions. Mobility, wellbeing, and goal attainment outcomes were assessed by the Life-Space Assessment (LSA), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), respectively. Results: In the first year, 183 patients were referred to the LWAHT; 123 were assessed and 96 received rehabilitation including 56 who were matched with a volunteer. Following volunteer support, patients reported significant improvements in mobility [LSA median 20 (IQR, 3.5-27.8)], general health [GHQ -2 (-5.25 to 0)], and achievement of goals [GAS T-score +8 (0-18.4)]. Conclusions: It was feasible to support community rehabilitation using hospice volunteers for people with advanced progressive illness. The LWAHT service also increased the uptake of hospice centre-based rehabilitation. Further work should test efficacy and identify patients requiring additional professional input. Key message: This is the first known study reporting on the use of trained rehabilitation volunteers to extend the reach of hospice rehabilitation services. People with limited access to the hospice, because of geographical location or personal circumstances, valued and benefited from tailored rehabilitation supported by the volunteers in their own homes.

Physical function endpoints in cancer cachexia clinical trials: Systematic Review 1 of the cachexia endpoints series.

In cancer cachexia trials, measures of physical function are commonly used as endpoints. For drug trials to obtain regulatory approval, efficacy in physical function endpoints may be needed alongside other measures. However, it is not clear which physical function endpoints should be used. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the frequency and diversity of physical function endpoints in cancer cachexia trials. Following a comprehensive electronic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane (1990-2021), records were retrieved. Eligible trials met the following criteria: adults (≥18 years), controlled design, more than 40 participants, use of a cachexia intervention for more than 14 days and use of a physical function endpoint. Physical function measures were classified as an objective measure (hand grip strength [HGS], stair climb power [SCP], timed up and go [TUG] test, 6-min walking test [6MWT] and short physical performance battery [SPPB]), clinician assessment of function (Karnofsky Performance Status [KPS] or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status [ECOG-PS]) or patient-reported outcomes (physical function subscale of the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires [EORTC QLQ-C30 or C15]). Data extraction was performed using Covidence and followed PRISMA guidance (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022276710). A total of 5975 potential studies were examined and 71 were eligible. Pharmacological interventions were assessed in 38 trials (54%). Of these, 11 (29%, n = 1184) examined megestrol and 5 (13%, n = 1928) examined anamorelin; nutritional interventions were assessed in 21 trials (30%); and exercise-based interventions were assessed in 6 trials (8%). The remaining six trials (8%) assessed multimodal interventions. Among the objective measures of physical function (assessed as primary or secondary endpoints), HGS was most commonly examined (33 trials, n = 5081) and demonstrated a statistically significant finding in 12 (36%) trials (n = 2091). The 6MWT was assessed in 12 trials (n = 1074) and was statistically significant in 4 (33%) trials (n = 403), whereas SCP, TUG and SPPB were each assessed in 3 trials. KPS was more commonly assessed than the newer ECOG-PS (16 vs. 9 trials), and patient-reported EORTC QLQ-C30 physical function was reported in 25 trials. HGS is the most commonly used physical function endpoint in cancer cachexia clinical trials. However, heterogeneity in study design, populations, intervention and endpoint selection make it difficult to comment on the optimal endpoint and how to measure this. We offer several recommendations/considerations to improve the design of future clinical trials in cancer cachexia.

Development and implementation of the lung volume reduction pulmonary rehabilitation tool to identify eligibility for lung volume reduction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during pulmonary rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Completion of pulmonary rehabilitation is recognised in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guidelines as a key opportunity to consider systematically whether a respiratory review to assess potential suitability for a lung volume reduction (LVR) procedure might be appropriate. We describe the development of a simple decision-support tool (the LVR-PR tool) to aid clinicians working in pulmonary rehabilitation, to operationalise this process. METHODS: We took an iterative mixed methods approach, which was partnership-based and involved an initial consensus survey, focus groups and an observational study cohort at multiple pulmonary rehabilitation centres. RESULTS: Diagnosis (97%), exercise capacity (84%), breathlessness (78%) and co-morbidities (76%) were acknowledged to be essential items for assessing basic LVR eligibility. Collating prior investigations and assessing patient understanding were considered useful but not essential. Clinician concerns included; streamlining the tool; access to clinical information and investigations; and care needed around introducing LVR therapies to patients in a PR setting. Access to clearer information about LVR procedures, the clinician's role in considering eligibility and how educational resources should be delivered were identified as important themes from patient group discussions. The LVR-PR tool was considered to be feasible and valid for implementation in a variety of PR services across the UK subject to the provision of appropriate health professional training. Clinicians working in specialist LVR centres across the UK who were not otherwise involved in the development process confirmed the tool's validity using the content validity index (CVI). INTERPRETATION: The LVR-PR tool appears to be an acceptable tool that can be feasibly implemented in PR services subject to good quality educational resources for both patients and healthcare professionals.

High Prevalence and Burden of Physical and Psychological Symptoms in a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Population in Primary Care Settings in South Africa.

Background: Many deaths globally are attributable to non-communicable disease, and four-fifths of these deaths are in low- and middle-income countries. Globally, COPD is currently the third leading cause of mortality. Research Question: 1) To determine the prevalence and burden of symptoms and concerns, and 2) determine predicting factors of symptom burden among patients with COPD. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at eight primary care sites in Western Cape. We collected socio-demographic data (age, gender, smoking status, number of missed doses of prescribed medication in the last seven days) and clinical data (PEF and KPS). The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS), the Medical Outcomes Study, Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), the London Chest Activity of Daily Living Scale (LCADLS) and the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) (impairment on person's life) were administered to patients. We conducted ordered logistic regression analysis to assess factors associated with the burden of symptoms. MSAS subscales: 1) Global symptom distress index, 2) physical symptom distress and 3) psychological symptom distress were dependent outcomes. We constructed three ordinal logistic regression models for each of the three subscales. Covariates were MOS-SSS, LCADLS, CAT, demographic and clinical variables. Results: We recruited n=387 patients, mean age 59.5 years, 53.0% female. In multivariate analysis, each of the three models (ie, global, psychological and physical symptom distress) was positively associated with impairment on person's life p<0.001, difficulty to perform activities of daily living p<0.001, and low social support p<0.001. Old age was associated with lower global symptom distress (p=0.004), psychological and (0.014) physical distress (0.005). Missing 1 or more doses of medication was associated with higher levels of global (0.004) and physical (0.005) symptom distress. Interpretation: The high prevalence and burden of physical and psychological symptoms provides strong evidence of the need for integrating person-centred assessment and management of symptoms in primary care settings.

Gaining muscle mass in COPD: a work in progress.

Interventions to improve muscle mass in COPD remain limited to exercise and nutrition. As novel drugs show promise, there should be focus on identifying target subgroups of patients, strategies to combine interventions and optimise outcome measures. https://bit.ly/3WI5Sjg.

European Respiratory Society statement on frailty in adults with chronic lung disease.

Frailty is a complex, multidimensional syndrome characterised by a loss of physiological reserves that increases a person's susceptibility to adverse health outcomes. Most knowledge regarding frailty originates from geriatric medicine; however, awareness of its importance as a treatable trait for people with chronic respiratory disease (including asthma, COPD and interstitial lung disease) is emerging. A clearer understanding of frailty and its impact in chronic respiratory disease is a prerequisite to optimise clinical management in the future. This unmet need underpins the rationale for undertaking the present work. This European Respiratory Society statement synthesises current evidence and clinical insights from international experts and people affected by chronic respiratory conditions regarding frailty in adults with chronic respiratory disease. The scope includes coverage of frailty within international respiratory guidelines, prevalence and risk factors, review of clinical management options (including comprehensive geriatric care, rehabilitation, nutrition, pharmacological and psychological therapies) and identification of evidence gaps to inform future priority areas of research. Frailty is underrepresented in international respiratory guidelines, despite being common and related to increased hospitalisation and mortality. Validated screening instruments can detect frailty to prompt comprehensive assessment and personalised clinical management. Clinical trials targeting people with chronic respiratory disease and frailty are needed.

Meditative movement for breathlessness in advanced COPD or cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effect of meditative movement, which includes yoga, tai chi and qi gong, on breathlessness in advanced disease is unknown. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the evidence on the effect of meditative movement on breathlessness (primary outcome), health-related quality of life, exercise capacity, functional performance and psychological symptoms (secondary outcomes) in advanced disease. 11 English and Chinese language databases were searched for relevant trials. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals were computed. 17 trials with 1125 participants (n=815 COPD, n=310 cancer), all with unclear or high risk of bias, were included. Pooled estimates (14 studies, n=671) showed no statistically significant difference in breathlessness between meditative movement and control interventions (SMD (95% CI) 0.10 (-0.15-0.34); Chi2=30.11; I2=57%; p=0.45), irrespective of comparator, intervention or disease category. Similar results were observed for health-related quality of life and exercise capacity. It was not possible to perform a meta-analysis for functional performance and psychological symptoms. In conclusion, in people with advanced COPD or cancer, meditative movement does not improve breathlessness, health-related quality of life or exercise capacity. Methodological limitations lead to low levels of certainty in the results.