Health-related quality of life in patients with multiple myeloma participating in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program.

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) report high symptom burden and functional disabilities resulting in impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Effective evidence-based rehabilitation guidelines are needed for patients with MM to improve HRQoL. The primary aim of this study was to investigate HRQoL in patients with rehabilitation needs living their everyday life. Patients with MM in remission attended a 12-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation program including a 5-day residential course, home-based exercise and a 2-day follow-up course. The patients were referred by the treating haematologist and completed a booklet of validated HRQoL questionnaires at baseline and before arriving for the 2-day follow-up course. The proportion of participants with moderate to severe symptoms and functional problems were assessed at the two time points and multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate explaining factors of impaired HRQoL at baseline. Ninety-two patients participated with a follow-up compliance rate of 90%. Median age was 67 years and median time since diagnosis was 26 months (ranged 5 months to 15.6 years). The most frequently reported symptoms were global quality of life, role functioning, fatigue, pain, peripheral neuropathy and physical functioning. Pain and fatigue were both highly coherent with impairment in physical functioning and those two symptoms explained most HRQoL impairments. Overall, the participants reported no change in HRQoL after the 12-week rehabilitation program. The study supports the need for an evidence-based guideline for rehabilitation and palliative care to patients with MM in remission living their everyday life.

Physical function in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma; a Danish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma is a cancer in the bone marrow causing bone destruction. Patients experience various symptoms related to the disease and/or treatment, such as pain and fatigue, leading to poorer quality of life. The symptom burden might affect physical function and physical activity levels, posing a risk of physical deterioration. The aim was to investigate whether physical function in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma differs from the reference values of the normal population and other cancer patients. METHODS: The study is a cross sectional descriptive analysis of a prospective cohort of 100 patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Four physical function tests were carried out; Six-Minute-Walk-Test, Sit-to-Stand-Test, grip strength and knee extension strength. Age and gender specific results of physical function from the multiple myeloma population were compared to normative data and to data from other cancer populations. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients included, 73% had bone disease and 55% received pain relieving medicine. Mean age was 67.7 years (SD 10.3). Patients with multiple myeloma had significantly poorer physical function compared to normative data, both regarding aerobic capacity and muscle strength, although not grip strength. No differences in physical function were found between patients with multiple myeloma and other cancer populations. CONCLUSIONS: Physical function in newly diagnosed Danish patients with multiple myeloma is lower than in the normal population. Exercise intervention studies are warranted to explore the value of physical exercise on physical function. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT02439112, registered 8 May 2015.

Supervised and home-based physical exercise in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma-a randomized controlled feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: The study evaluated the feasibility and safety of the exercise intervention and physical test procedures of our ongoing randomized controlled trial, examining the effect of physical exercise in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma. METHODS: Patients are randomized 1:1 to a control group (usual care) or an intervention group (usual care and exercise) by block randomization with stratification of planned treatment, WHO performance status, and study site. The exercise intervention consists of eight supervised exercise sessions combined with home-based exercise over a 10-week period. Bone disease is systematically evaluated to determine limitations regarding physical testing and/or exercise. Feasibility outcome measures were study eligibility, acceptance, and attrition, and furthermore attendance, adherence, tolerability, and safety to the exercise intervention. Additionally, test completion, pain, and adverse events during the physical test procedures were evaluated. Outcome assessors were blinded to allocation. RESULTS: Of 49 patients screened, 30 were included. The median age was 69 years, range 38-90, 77% were males, and 67% had bone disease. Study eligibility was 82%, acceptance 75%, and attrition 20%. Attendance at supervised exercise sessions was 92%, and adherence to supervised exercise sessions and home-based exercise sessions was 99% and 89%, respectively. No serious adverse events attributed to exercise or physical tests were reported. All patients completed the physical tests, except for two patients, where physical test procedures were modified due to bone disease. DISCUSSION: The exercise intervention and physical test procedures were feasible and safe in patients with multiple myeloma, even in older patients with multiple myeloma and in patients with myeloma bone disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. ID NCT02439112. Registered on May 7, 2015.

The Barthel Index and the Cumulated Ambulation Score are superior to the de Morton Mobility Index for the early assessment of outcome in patients with a hip fracture admitted to an acute geriatric ward.

PURPOSE: To examine clinimetric properties of the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) in patients with hip fracture in comparison with the modified Barthel Index (BI), Cumulated Ambulation Score (CAS), and 30-s Chair Stand Test (30-s CST). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty two patients with a hip fracture admitted to a geriatric ward following surgery were assessed on day 1 and at discharge (mean of 9 [SD 5.1] post-surgery days). RESULTS: Ninety eight percent and 89% of patients were not able to perform the 30-s CST at baseline and at discharge (large floor effect), respectively. Corresponding floor effects were 39% and 31% for DEMMI, 12% and 5% for BI, and 22% and 6%, respectively, for CAS. Convergent validity was strong between DEMMI and CAS (r = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69-0.81), and moderate between DEMMI and BI (r = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.48-0.66) and CAS and BI (r = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39-0.59). Responsiveness, as indicated by the effect size was 0.76 for DEMMI, 1.78 for BI and 1.04 for CAS. Baseline scores of DEMMI, BI, and CAS showed similar properties in predicting discharge destination of patients from own home. CONCLUSIONS: The value of using DEMMI and 30-s CST in patients with hip fracture during the acute hospitalization seems limited in comparison with BI and CAS. DEMMI and CAS seem to assess similar constructs. Implications for Rehabilitation Outcome measures used for the evaluation of patients with hip fracture should be validated in the specific time-line and rehabilitation setting following surgery, before being implemented in daily clinical practice. We suggest the Cumulated Ambulation Score for monitoring basic mobility during the acute hospitalization for the entire group of patients recovering from a hip fracture, while DEMMI seems more feasible for the subgroup of patients with higher functional levels. The modified Barthel Index seems useful for the assessment of activities of daily living in the acute care setting of patients with hip fracture. We cannot recommend the original 30-s Chair Stand Test to be used for the evaluation of patients with hip fracture in the acute hospital setting.

Predictors of not regaining basic mobility after hip fracture surgery.

PURPOSE: Regaining basic mobility after hip fracture surgery is a milestone in the in-hospital rehabilitation. The aims were to investigate predictors for not regaining basic mobility at the fifth post-operative day and at discharge after undergoing hip fracture surgery. METHOD: In a prospective cohort study 274 hip fracture patients were included. Patients with compromised ability to exercise were excluded leaving 167 patients for analysis. Patient demographics, functional level, method of operation, post-operative hemoglobin and the completion of physiotherapy was registered. Basic mobility was assessed by the Cumulated Ambulation Score. Multivariate logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: Age >80 years (OR = 7.5), low prefracture functional level (OR = 3.0), not completed the physiotherapy on first post-operative day (OR = 4.6) and hemoglobin <6 mmol/L measured on first post-operative day (OR = 5.8) were significant predictors of not regaining basic mobility within the fifth post-operative day (p values: 0.04 - <0.0001). Predictors of not regaining basic mobility at discharge were: Age >80 years (OR = 4.3), prefracture functional level (OR = 7.0) and not completed the physiotherapy on first post-operative day (OR = 3.3) (p values: 0.009-<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, who are not able to complete physiotherapy on first post-operative day, are at a greater risk of not regaining basic mobility during hospitalization. This highlights the importance of physiotherapy as part of the interdisciplinary treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Regaining abilities in basic mobility after hip fracture surgery is a primary goal of rehabilitation during hospitalization in the acute ward. The following factors are indentified to predict patients not regaining their previous level of basic mobility: Age >80 years, low prefracture functional level, patients not being able to complete the physiotherapy on the first post-operative day and hemoglobin value <6 mmol/l on the first post-operative day. In future strategies, the findings regarding both modifiable and unmodifiable factors, can be used to conduct early planning of discharge and to take actions in relation to patients who are at a risk of not regaining basic mobility.