Mechanisms and benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in individuals with stroke: emerging role of its impact on improving cardiovascular and neurovascular health.

Human and animal studies have demonstrated the mechanisms and benefits of aerobic exercise for both cardiovascular and neurovascular health. Aerobic exercise induces neuroplasticity and neurophysiologic reorganization of brain networks, improves cerebral blood flow, and increases whole-body VO2peak (peak oxygen consumption). The effectiveness of a structured cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program is well established and a vital part of the continuum of care for people with cardiovascular disease. Individuals post stroke exhibit decreased cardiovascular capacity which impacts their neurologic recovery and extends disability. Stroke survivors share the same risk factors as patients with cardiac disease and can therefore benefit significantly from a comprehensive CR program in addition to neurorehabilitation to address their cardiovascular health. The inclusion of individuals with stroke into a CR program, with appropriate adaptations, can significantly improve their cardiovascular health, promote functional recovery, and reduce future cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events thereby reducing the economic burden of stroke.

Integrating Cardiac Rehabilitation in Stroke Recovery.

Stroke remains a top contributor to long-term disability in the United States and substantially limits a person's physical activity. Decreased cardiovascular capacity is a major contributing factor to activity limitations and is a significant health concern. Addressing the cardiovascular capacity of stroke survivors as part of poststroke management results in significant improvements in their endurance, functional recovery, and medical outcomes such as all-cause rehospitalization and mortality. Incorporation of a structured approach similar to the cardiac rehabilitation program, including aerobic exercise and risk factor education, can lead to improved cardiovascular function, health benefits, and quality of life in stroke survivors.

Individual, organizational, and policy strategies to enhance the retention and a sense of belonging for health care professionals in rehabilitation medicine.

The retention of physicians and other health care professionals in rehabilitation medicine is a critical issue that affects patients' access to care and the quality of the care they receive. In the United States and globally, there are known shortages of clinicians including, but not limited to, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. These shortages are predicted to worsen in the future. It is known that attrition occurs in a variety of ways such as a clinician reducing work hours or effort, taking a position at another organization, leaving the field of medicine altogether, stress-related illness, and suicide. Retention efforts should focus on stay factors by creating a positive culture that supports a sense of belonging as well as addressing a myriad of push and pull factors that lead to attrition. In this commentary, we provide a roadmap that includes examples of stay strategies for individuals and organizations to adopt that are aimed at enhancing the retention of rehabilitation medicine professionals.

Analysis of Race and Ethnicity Among United States Medical Board Leadership.

Background: The inequitable representation of women and members of racial and ethnic minority groups in leadership positions within academic medicine is an ongoing challenge with practical and realistic solutions. The purpose of this study was to assess the race and ethnicity of individuals in leadership positions among the 24 Member Boards of Directors (Boards) of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the race and ethnicity patterns for individuals holding leadership positions among the 24 Boards of the ABMS as of March 1, 2022. Two independent coders with 100% concordance recorded race and ethnicity using online biographies and photographs. Percentages were compared to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2018 data reports. Results: Among 449 director positions, 415 (92.4%) were physicians. Within the physician subset, 12.3% (51/415) Asian, 8.2% (34/415) Black, and 3.4% (14/415) Hispanic individuals were identified. Women who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups have less representation than men of the same race. Of 24 Boards, 37.5% (9/24) had no Asian women, 50.0% (12/24) had no Black women, and 75.0% (18/24) had no Hispanic women. White physicians were overrepresented on 14 of 21 (66.7%) Boards compared to the proportion of active White physicians or White individuals in the United States general population. Conclusion: Disparities exist for members of racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly women from these groups. As a leader in academic medicine, the ABMS should ensure its Boards are diverse with respect to gender, race, and ethnicity. Diverse groups often contribute unique insights that support medical education, advance science, and improve clinical care.

Organizations in science and medicine must hold each other accountable for discriminatory practices.

Many organizations persist in working with others that engage in known, remediable structural discrimination. We name this practice interorganizational structural discrimination (ISD) and argue it is a pivotal contributor to inequities in science and medicine. We urge organizations to leverage their relationships and demand progress from collaborators.

Stroke Recovery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Position Paper on Recommendations for Rehabilitation.

Health care delivery shifted and adapted with the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Stroke care was negatively affected across the care continuum and may lead to poor community living outcomes in those who survived a stroke during the ongoing pandemic. For instance, delays in seeking care, changes in length of stays, and shifts in discharge patterns were observed during the pandemic. Those seeking care were younger and had more severe neurologic effects from stroke. Increased strain was placed on caregivers and public health efforts, and community-wide lockdowns, albeit necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, had detrimental effects on treatment and recommendations to support community living outcomes. The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Stroke Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group Health and Wellness Task Force convened to (1) discuss international experiences in stroke care and rehabilitation and (2) review recently published literature on stroke care and outcomes during the pandemic. Based on the findings in the literature, the task force proposes recommendations and interdisciplinary approaches at the (1) institutional and societal level; (2) health care delivery level; and (3) individual and interpersonal level spanning across the care continuum and into the community.

Stroke Recovery Program with Modified Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Mortality, Functional & Cardiovascular Performance.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity and exercise after stroke is strongly recommended, providing many positive influences on function and secondary stroke prevention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a stroke recovery program (SRP) integrating modified cardiac rehabilitation on mortality and functional outcomes for stroke survivors. METHODS: This study used a retrospective analysis of data from a prospectively collected stroke rehabilitation database which followed 449 acute stroke survivors discharged from an inpatient rehabilitation facility between 2015 and 2020. For 1-year post-stroke, 246 SRP-participants and 203 nonparticipants were compared. The association of the SRP including modified cardiac rehabilitation with all-cause mortality and functional performance was assessed using the following statistical techniques: log rank test, Cox proportional hazard model and linear mixed effect models. Cardiovascular performance over 36 sessions of modified cardiac rehabilitation was assessed using linear effect model with Tukey procedure. The primary outcome measure was 1-year all-cause mortality rate. Secondary outcomes were functional performance measured in Activity Measure of Post-Acute Care scores and cardiovascular performance measured in metabolic equivalent of tasks times minutes. RESULTS: The SRP-participants had: (1) a significantly reduced 1-year post-stroke mortality rate from hospital admission corresponding to a four-fold reduction in mortality (P = 0.005, CI for risk ratio = [0.08, 0.71]), (2) statistically and clinically significant improvement of function in all Activity Measure of Post-Acute Care domains (P < 0.001 for all, 95% CI for differences in Basic Mobility [5.9, 10.1], Daily Activity [6.2, 11.8], and Applied Cognitive [3.0, 6.8]) compared to the matched cohort and (3) an improvement in cardiovascular performance over 36 sessions with an increase of 78% metabolic equivalent of tasks times minutes (P < 0.001, 95% CI [70.6, 85.9%]) compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke survivors who participated in a comprehensive stroke recovery program incorporating modified cardiac rehabilitation had decreased all-cause mortality, improved overall function, and improved cardiovascular performance.

Focal Peripheral Neuropathies Observed in Patients Diagnosed With COVID-19: A Case Series.

ABSTRACT: A growing number of studies have documented a wide variety of neurological manifestations associated with the novel SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Of the available literature, cranial neuropathies and central nervous system disorders, such as encephalopathy and ischemic strokes, remain the predominant discussion. Limited investigations exist examining peripheral neuropathies of those with COVID-19. This case series discusses eight patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and presented with localized weakness after a prolonged course of mechanical ventilation (>21 days). We retrospectively reviewed all patients' charts who received electrodiagnostic evaluation between March and November 2020 in the outpatient clinic or in the acute care hospital at the JFK Medical Center/JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute and Saint Peter's University Hospital of New Jersey. A total of eight COVID-19-positive patients were identified to have a clinical presentation of localized weakness after a prolonged course of mechanical ventilation. All patients were subsequently found to have a focal peripheral neuropathy of varying severity that was confirmed by electrodiagnostic testing. Patient demographics, clinical, and electrodiagnostic findings were documented. The findings of local weakness and focal peripheral neuropathies after diagnosis of COVID-19 raise significant questions regarding underlying pathophysiology and overall prognosis associated with COVID-19.

Impact of Modified Cardiac Rehabilitation Within a Stroke Recovery Program on All-Cause Hospital Readmissions.

OBJECTIVE: A Stroke Recovery Program (SRP) including cardiac rehabilitation demonstrated lower all-cause mortality rates, improved cardiovascular function, and overall functional ability among stroke survivors. Neither an effect of SRP on acute care hospital readmission rates nor cost savings have been reported. DESIGN: This prospective matched cohort study included 193 acute stroke survivors admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility between 2015 and 2017. The 105 SRP participants and 88 nonparticipants were matched exactly for stroke type, sex, and race and approximately for age, baseline functional scores, and medical complexity scores. Primary outcome measured acute care hospital readmission rate up to 1 yr post-stroke. Secondary outcomes measured costs. RESULTS: A 22% absolute reduction (P = 0.006) in hospital readmissions was observed between the SRP participant (n = 47, or 45%) and nonparticipant (n = 59, or 67%) groups. This resulted in significant cost savings. The conventional care cost to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for stroke patients for both readmissions and outpatient therapy is estimated at $9.67 billion annually. The yearly cost for these services with utilization of the SRP is $8.55 billion. CONCLUSION: Acute care hospital readmissions were reduced in stroke survivors who participated in SRP. Future study is warranted to examine whether widespread application of a similar program may improve quality of life and decrease cost.

Author Diversity on Clinical Practice Guideline Committees.

ABSTRACT: Reports have demonstrated that women overall and women physicians, in particular, are underrepresented as authors of clinical practice guidelines. This analysis used publicly available information to explore the diversity of rehabilitation-related clinical practice guideline authors by gender, race, and ethnicity. Primary analysis identified authors' gender, race, ethnicity, and visible minority status. Two sets were analyzed: (1) clinical practice guidelines by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) categorized as "Rehabilitation" or "Pain" (n = 7; VA clinical practice guidelines) and (2) a set (n = 10) published in the United States (US) from 2019 to 2021 that were selected because of low numbers of inclusion at less than 20% women authors. Key findings include that among physician authors, both the VA and US clinical practice guidelines underrepresented women (15 [24.2%] and 27 [16.7%], respectively) and those coded as a racial or ethnic minority were particularly underrepresented. Notably, women authors overall were equally represented (92 [50.0%]) in the VA clinical practice guidelines. The US clinical practice guidelines had women authors who were underrepresented (36 [19.0%]). Secondary analysis of the entire set of VA clinical practice guidelines (n = 21) found gaps in diversity-related content. Clinical practice guidelines have far-reaching health and economic impacts, and addressing disparities in the diversity of author teams and/or gaps in diversity-related content is of paramount importance.