The caregiver burden of informal caregivers for stroke patients with and without dysphagia: A multi-center, cross-sectional study in Türkiye.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the caregiver burden (CB) of informal caregivers for stroke survivors with and without dysphagia and to assess the relationship between the CB levels of informal caregivers for stroke survivors with dysphagia, patients' swallowing-related quality of life (QoL), and patients' stroke-specific QoL. Patients and methods: This multi-center, prospective, cross-sectional study included a total of 120 stroke patients (76 males, 44 females; mean age: 61.1±12.3 years; range, 19 to 86 years) between October 2019 and 2020. Of the patients, 57 had dysphagia and 63 had no dysphagia. The Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) was used to classify the degree of functional dietary limitation caused by each patient's swallowing impairment. Patients and caregivers completed the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), Swallowing Quality of Life (SWQoL) questionnaire, Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI). Results: The CB levels were higher in those caring for stroke patients with dysphagia than in those caring for stroke patients without dysphagia. Caregiver burden was found to be associated with patients' swallowing-related QoL and stroke-related QoL. Significant predictors of high CB scores (F=2.55, R2=0.59; p=0.007) were being an employed caregiver (B=17.48, p=0.003), being a caregiver with high school (B=-19.6, p=0.03), and secondary school (B=-16.28, p=0.02) educational status, being son, daughter (B=30.63, p=0.007) or other relative of the patient (B=20.06, p=0.01), lower FOIS stage (B=-3.14, p=0.011), lower SWQoL (B=0.52, p=0.009) and lower SIS (B=-0.37, p=0.04) scores. Conclusion: Caregivers of stroke patients with dysphagia suffer from a higher CB than those without dysphagia. In stroke patients with dysphagia, swallowing-related QoL is associated with the QoL levels of stroke patients and the CB levels of their caregivers. Employment status, educational status of caregiver, caregiver's relativity to the patient, FOIS stage, swallowing and stroke related QoL of the patients are factors related to burden levels of caregivers of stroke patients with dysphagia. These results may help health professionals to understand dysphagia as an essential source of CB and consider it, while planning treatments.

The effects of spasticity on glucose metabolism and soft tissue body composition in patients with spinal cord injury.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of spasticity on glucose metabolism and percentage of fat-free mass (FFM%) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Patients and methods: A total of 33 patients (22 males, 11 females; mean age: 38.6±12.5 years; range, 20 to 64 years) with SCI defined by the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale Grades A to D were included between September 2014 and May 2018. We assessed spasticity with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and evaluated spasms with the Penn Spasm Frequency Scale (PSFS). We assessed the glucose metabolism by calculating the Matsuda and HOMA-IR index, and measured FFM% by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Fourteen patients had motor complete, and 19 had motor incomplete SCI. The neurological injury levels of the patients were C4-T12. There was a positive correlation between hip adductor muscle MAS and trunk, android, and gynoid FFM% and between hip extensor muscle MAS and android FFM% in patients with motor complete SCI. Hip extensor and knee flexor muscle MAS showed a negative correlation with the HOMA-IR. Hip adductor and extensor muscle MAS, as well as knee flexor and extensor muscle MAS, had a positive correlation with the Matsuda index in these patients. There was a positive correlation between knee extensor muscle MAS and gynoid FFM% and between PSFS and arms, trunk, gynoid, and total FFM% in patients with motor incomplete SCI. There was a negative correlation between hip adductor and extensor muscle MAS, PSFS, and level of fasting glucose in these patients. Conclusion: This study supports the notion that spasticity has positive effects on the FFM% and glucose metabolism in patients with motor complete and incomplete SCI.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of inpatient stroke patients in Turkey.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the stroke rehabilitation facilities provided by university hospitals (UHs) and training and research hospitals (TRHs) and to evaluate the geographical disparities in stroke rehabilitation. Patients and methods: Between April 2013 and April 2014 a total of 1,529 stroke patients (817 males, 712 females; mean age: 61.7±14.0 years; range, 12 to 91 years) who were admitted to the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics in 20 tertiary care centers were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, regional and clinical characteristics, details of rehabilitation period, functional status, and complications were collected. Results: The median duration of stroke was five (range, 1 to 360) months. The ratio of the patients treated in the TRH in the Marmara region was 77%, but only 25% of the patients were living in the Marmara region. Duration of hospitalization was longer in the TRHs with a median of 28 days compared to those of UHs (median: 22 days) (p<0.0001). More than half of the patients (55%) were rehabilitated in the Marmara region. Time after stroke was the highest in the Southeast region with a median of 12 (range, 1 to 230) months and the lowest in the Aegean region with a median of four (range, 1 to 84) months. Conclusion: This study provides an insight into the situation of stroke rehabilitation settings and characteristics of stroke patients in Turkey. A standard method of patient evaluation and a registry system may provide data about the efficacy of stroke rehabilitation and may help to focus on the problems that hinder a better outcome.

Best Practice Recommendations for Geriatric Dysphagia Management with 5 Ws and 1H.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a geriatric syndrome. Changes in the whole body that occur with aging also affect swallowing functions and cause presbyphagia. This condition may progress to oropharyngeal and/or esophageal dysphagia in the presence of secondary causes that increase in incidence with aging. However, no study has been published that provides recommendations for use in clinical practice that addresses in detail all aspects of the management of dysphagia in geriatric individuals. This study aimed to answer almost all potential questions and problems in the management of geriatric dysphagia in clinical practice. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team created this recommendation guide using the seven-step and three-round modified Delphi method via e-mail. The study included 39 experts from 29 centers in 14 cities. RESULTS: Based on the 5W and 1H method, we developed 216 detailed recommendations for older adults from the perspective of different disciplines dealing with older people. CONCLUSION: This consensus-based recommendation is a useful guide to address practical clinical questions in the diagnosis, rehabilitation, and follow-up for the management of geriatric dysphagia and also contains detailed commentary on these issues.

Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Patients with Dysphagia: A Delphi-Based Consensus Study of Experts in Turkey-Part I: Management, Diagnosis, and Follow-up.

Dysphagia is one of the most common and important complications of stroke. It is an independent marker of poor outcome after acute stroke and may become chronic after the acute period and continues to affect all aspects of the patient's life. Patients with stroke may encounter any of the medical branches in the emergency room or outpatient clinic, and as in our country, there may not be specialists specific for dysphagia, such as speech-language pathologists (SLP), in every hospital. This study aimed to raise awareness and create a common opinion of medical specialists for stroke patients with dysphagia. This recommendation paper has been written by a multidisciplinary team and offers 45 recommendations for stroke patients with dysphagia. It was created using the eight-step Delphi round via e-mail. This study is mostly specific to Turkey. However, since it contains detailed recommendations from the perspective of various disciplines associated with stroke, this consensus-based recommendation paper is not only a useful guide to address clinical questions in practice for the clinical management of dysphagia in terms of management, diagnosis, and follow-up, but also includes detailed comments for these topics.

Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Patients with Dysphagia: A Delphi-Based Consensus Study of Experts in Turkey-Part II: Rehabilitation.

Dysphagia is one of the most common and important complications of stroke. It is an independent marker of poor outcome following acute stroke and it continues to be effective for many years. This consensus-based guideline is not only a good address to clinical questions in practice for the clinical management of dysphagia including management, diagnosis, follow-up, and rehabilitation methods, but also includes detailed algorithms for these topics. The recommendation paper has been written by a multidisciplinary team and offers 117 recommendations for stroke patients with dysphagia. While focusing on management principles, diagnosis, and follow-up in the 1st part (45 items), rehabilitation details were evaluated in the 2nd part (72 items).

Incorporating patient preferences into osteoarthritis treatment.

Objectives: This study aims to identify the relationship between treatment modalities and the patients' preferences in osteoarthritis (OA) treatment and identify the related factors. Patients and methods: This multi-center, cross-sectional study included a total of 305 patients with OA (66 males, 239 females; mean age: 66.4±9.7 years; range, 38 to 90 years) between July 2019 and January 2020. Data including demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Results: The mostly common involvement sites were knee joints, lumbar, and cervical regions, respectively. Prior to the study, the treatment modalities which were prescribed to patients were oral drugs (79.7%), topical drugs (73.8%), home-based exercise program (62.6%), and physical therapy (outpatient) (61.3%). Of the recommended remedy, 89.2% were prescribed by physiatrists, 24.6% by orthopedists, 5.6% by family practitioners, 2.6% by neurosurgeons, and 1.6% by algologists. The most beneficial treatments (to whom) were inpatient physical therapy program (47%), oral drugs (41%), home-based exercise programs (24.9%) according to patients' perspective. According to patient preferences, nearly half of the patients preferred outpatient physical therapy program (45.9%), oral drugs (33.1%), inpatient physical therapy (20%), and home-based exercises (18%). The most common reasons for their preferences were previous benefits from treatment (54.4%), long-term effects (38%), easy access to treatment (33.1%) and concerns about side effects (28.9%). The mostly common reasons for their preferences were previous benefits from the treatment (54.4%), long-term positive effects of physical therapy (38%), easy access to the treatment (33.1%) and concerns about side effects of drugs (28.9%). Conclusion: Besides medical regimen, the results of this study showed that the patients preferred outpatient and inpatient physical therapy modalities, and home-based exercises programs. In the light of these findings, initiation of a new prescription (e.g., drugs or physical therapy modalities) in OA patients, previous treatment modalities, and approaches are suggested to be carefully reviewed by the clinician to anticipate and improve the adherence behavior to the new treatment.

Does Vitamin D Affect Diabetic Neuropathic Pain and Balance?

PURPOSE: This randomized, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of vitamin D replacement therapy on neuropathic symptoms and balance in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain and low vitamin D levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the 258 patients, the results in a total of 57 volunteers (32 in the treatment and 25 in the control arm) meeting the inclusion criteria are reported. Symptoms of neuropathic pain were assessed using Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaire, and presence of polyneuropathy (PNP) was determined by performing electromyography (EMG). Balance was assessed using Berg balance test (BBT). After undergoing these examinations, the patients in the treatment group were intramuscularly (IM) injected with 300,000 IU vitamin D in a liquid formulation and those in the placebo group were IM injected with physiological saline. The DN4 and BBT were repeated after 12 weeks, and the results were compared. RESULTS: The patients in the treatment group showed a significant decrease in total DN4 scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.008). The patients in the treatment group also showed a significant increase in BBT scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.001). Furthermore, in subgroup analysis, these patients showed a significant decrease in electric shock and burning sensation scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.006, p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients with diabetic neuropathic pain, vitamin D levels should be measured and vitamin D replacement therapy should be administered as required to resolve neuropathic symptoms and to improve balance.

Comparison of ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma, prolotherapy, and corticosteroid injections in rotator cuff lesions.

BACKGROUND: Injections are a good alternative to conventional treatment-resistant cases with rotator cuff (RC) lesions before operation. Currently, different injection methods are used in RC lesions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of different injection methods (platelet-rich plasma [PRP], corticosteroid [COR] and prolotherapy [PRO]) in RC tendon lesions. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients were divided into 4 groups as PRP, COR, PRO and the lidocaine group. Subacromial injection was applied to all groups. They were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) at 3, 12 and 24 weeks post-injection. RESULTS: In the COR group in the 3rd week, VAS and WORC scores were significantly lower than the other groups (p< 0.01 and p< 0.05 respectively). In the PRP group in the 24th week, VAS and WORC scores were found to be significantly lower than the COR group (p< 0.01 and p< 0.05 respectively). In the COR group in the 3rd week the ASES score was found to be significantly higher than the PRP and PRO group (p< 0.01). CONCLUSION: In patients with RC lesions, corticosteroid injection provides short-term relief for pain, function, and quality of life, while PRP injection works for long-term wellbeing. For all types of applied injections, improvement in pain, function and quality of life were observed.

Investigation of C5-C6 radiculopathy and shoulder rotator cuff lesions coexistence frequency.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the coexistence of C5 and/or C6 root compression with rotator cuff pathologies and its effect on pain and disability. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with pain radiating from neck to shoulder were retrospectively evaluated on the basis of demographic data, duration of symptoms, overhead activities, and physical examination. The visual numerical scale (VNS), Quick DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand), and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) were also used. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate C5-C6 root compression, which was separated into two groups as patients with or without upper trunk root compression (UTRC). These groups were compared according to the MRI findings of patients with rotator cuff pathologies. RESULTS: According to our results, C5 root compression (12.3%), C6 root compression (41.5%), UTRC (44.6%) were detected. There was no difference between the groups regarding the Hawkins and Neer tests. The Yergason and Jobe tests were statistically higher in patients without UTRC. In the shoulder MRIs, the rate of subscapular muscle tear was significantly higher in patients with UTRC. Other shoulder MRI findings were not different between the groups. VNS-neck and SPADI-pain scores were significantly higher in patients without UTRC. There was no difference between the groups in the scores of VNS-shoulder, Quick DASH, SPADI-disability, and SPADI-total. CONCLUSION: Radiating pain from neck to shoulder that is caused by C5-C6 root compression does not create a predisposition for clinical, radiologic, and functional pathologies in shoulder joint. It seems difficult to diagnose the exact origin of pain in patients who present with neck pain radiating to shoulder based on the findings of cervical or shoulder MRI alone.

A randomized, double-blind study to assess if vitamin D treatment affects the outcomes of rehabilitation and balance in hemiplegic patients.

[Purpose] To investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on rehabilitation outcomes and balance in patients having hemiplegia due to ischemic stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Vitamin D levels of 132 patients hospitalized for hemiplegia rehabilitation due to ischemic stroke were tested. Consequently, 86/132 patients had low vitamin D levels, 72 of which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (injected with 300,000 IU vitamin D), and Group B (injected intramuscularly with saline). Each patient was tested at the baseline and at the third month using the Brunnstrom recovery staging, functional ambulation scale, modified Barthel index, and Berg balance scale. The findings were compared between the groups. [Results] By the end of the third month, The Berg balance scale results and modified Barthel index scores significantly differed between the two groups, whereas Brunnstrom recovery staging and functional ambulation scale test results did not. [Conclusion] This study found that vitamin D administration increased the activity levels and accelerated balance recovery but did not significantly affect ambulation or motor recovery. These results warrant confirmation by longer follow-up studies with a larger number of participants.