Claire E. Hailey

Gender and Age Interact to Affect Early Outcome after Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common and devastating form of cerebrovascular disease. In ICH, gender differences in outcomes remain relatively understudied but have been examined in other neurological emergencies. Further, a potential effect of age and gender on outcomes after ICH has not been explored. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that age and gender interact to modify neurological outcomes after ICH. Methods Adult patients admitted with spontaneous primary supratentorial ICH from July 2007 through April 2010 were assessed via retrospective analysis of an existing stroke database at Duke University. Univariate analysis of collected variables was used to compare gender and outcome. Unfavorable outcome was defined as discharge to hospice or death. Using multivariate regression, the combined effect of age and gender on outcome after ICH was analyzed. Results In this study population, women were younger (61.1+14.5 versus 65.8+17.3 years, p=0.03) and more likely to have a history of substance abuse (35% versus 8.9%, p<0.0001) compared to men. Multivariable models demonstrated that advancing age had a greater effect on predicting discharge outcome in women compared to men (p=0.02). For younger patients, female sex was protective; however, at ages greater than 60 years, female sex was a risk factor for discharge to hospice or death. Conclusion While independently associated with discharge to hospice or death after ICH, the interaction effect between gender and age demonstrated significantly stronger correlation with early outcome after ICH in a single center cohort. Prospective study is required to verify these findings.

Effect of surgical clipping versus endovascular coiling on recovery from oculomotor nerve palsy in patients with posterior communicating artery aneurysms: A retrospective comparative study and meta-analysis

Background: Oculomotor nerve palsy (OMNP) is a well-recognized complication of posterior communicating artery (PCOM) aneurysms. Only a few comparative studies have assessed the effect of clipping versus coiling on recovery from OMNP in PCOM aneurysms. A retrospective review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between PCOM aneurysm treatment and OMNP. Materials and Methods: Medical records of all patients presenting between January 2000 and February 2013 with intracranial aneurysm were searched. All patients with OMNP secondary to PCOM aneurysm were included for analysis. Patients undergoing surgical clipping or endovascular coiling were compared with respect to complete resolution of OMNP after aneurysm surgery (i.e., primary outcome). A meta-analysis of published studies of OMNP associated with PCOM aneurysm was performed after a MEDLINE search. Results: Seventeen patients with OMNP secondary to PCOM aneurysms met the inclusion criteria. Surgical clipping (seven of eight patients, or 87.5%) resulted in greater complete resolution of OMNP compared with endovascular coiling (four of nine patients, or 44.4%), P = 0.13. A meta-analysis of similar studies revealed that complete resolution of OMNP was more commonly associated with surgical clipping (36 of 43 patients, or 83.7%) than with endovascular coiling (29 of 55 patients, or 52.7%), yielding an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 6.04 [confidence interval (CI) =1.88-19.45, P = 0.003]. Multivariate analysis found that the degree of pre-operative OMNP (OR = 0.07, CI = 0.02-0.28, P = 0.001) and surgical clipping (OR = 6.37, CI = 1.73-23.42, P = 0.005) were significant factors that affected the complete recovery of OMNP. Conclusion: Complete recovery of OMNP with PCOM aneurysms is more commonly associated with surgical clipping than with endovascular coiling. Also, the degree of pre-operative OMNP and the treatment modality are significant factors that affect the complete recovery of OMNP.

Determining the utility and durability of medical equipment donated to a rural clinic in a low-income country

BACKGROUND Health centers in low-income countries often depend on donations to provide appropriate diagnostic equipment. However, donations are sometimes made without an understanding of the recipients needs, practical constraints or sustainability of supplies. METHODS We donated a set of physical diagnostic equipment, non-invasive instrument tests and laboratory supplies to a rural health center in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We collected information on the usage and durability of equipment and supplies for each patient encounter over a 1-year period. RESULTS We recorded 913 patient encounters. The most commonly used physical diagnostic equipment were the stethoscope (98.9%; 903/913), thermometer (81.7%; 746/913), adult scale (81.4%; 744/913), stop watch (62.6%; 572/913), adult sphygmomanometer (55.8%; 510/913), infant scale (24.9%; 228/913), measuring tape (24.3%; 222/913) and fetoscope (23.8%; 218/913). The most commonly used laboratory tests were the blood smear for malaria (53.7%; 491/913), hematocrit (23.5%; 215/913), urinalysis (20.1%; 184/913) and sputum stain for TB (13.3%; 122/913). With the exception of a penlight and solar lantern, all equipment remained functional. CONCLUSIONS This study adds valuable information about the utility and durability of equipment supplied to a health center in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our results might aid in determining the appropriateness of donated medical equipment in similar settings. The selection of donated goods should be made with knowledge of the context in which it will be used, and utilization should be monitored.

Exploring knowledge and perceptions of palliative care to inform integration of palliative care education into cystic fibrosis care

Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) face the challenges of managing a chronic, progressive disease. While palliative care is a standard of care in serious illnesses, there are no guidelines for its incorporation into CF care. Patients with CF, caregivers, and CF care providers may lack knowledge about palliative care and perceive barriers to integrated care.

Association of IL6ST (gp130) Polymorphism with Functional Outcome Following Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Genes associated with the inflammatory response and cytostructural integrity may influence recovery following a brain injury. To examine this in the setting of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were assessed for associations with patient outcome. METHODS A cohort of 54 patients with supratentorial ICH were enrolled. Based on known involvement with neuroinflammation and cytostructural integrity, 10 preselected SNPs from 6 candidate genes were tested for associations with 6-month functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] ≥ 3), mortality, and in-hospital deterioration (Glasgow Coma Scale decrease by >2 within 7 days of admission) following ICH. Fishers exact test and logistic regression with adjustment for race and ICH score were performed. RESULTS SNP rs10940495 (gp130 G/A) within the gp130 gene was the only SNP significantly associated with lower odds of an unfavorable 6-month functional outcome (odds ratio = .16 for mRS ≥ 3; 95% confidence interval, .03-.87, P = .03). Compared with major allele (A) homozygotes, minor allele (G) carriers in the IL6 signal transducer gene (gp130) locus were 84% less likely to have a poor outcome (mRS ≥ 3) at 6 months following spontaneous ICH. The SNP rs10940495 (gp130 G/A) and SNP rs3219119 (PARP-1 A/T) were associated with 6-month mortality (P = .02 and .04, respectively) only on univariate analysis. None of the SNPs examined were associated with in-hospital deterioration. CONCLUSION In this exploratory study, SNP rs10940495 in the gp130 locus was associated with functional outcome at 6 months following spontaneous ICH. These findings, which should be validated through a larger study, suggest that inflammation plays an important role in mediating outcomes after ICH.

Associations between Patient Characteristics and a New, Early Do-Not-Attempt Resuscitation Order after Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Decisions to limit care, including use of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, are associated with increased risk of death after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Given the value that patient surrogates place on the physicians perception of prognosis, understanding prognostic indicators that influence clinical judgment of outcomes is critical. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to understand the patient variables and comorbid illnesses associated with DNR orders placed on patients within 72 hours after ICH. DESIGN Single-center, retrospective review of medical records of 198 consecutive patients with an admission diagnosis of primary supratentorial ICH between July 2007 and December 2010. SUBJECTS Patients who did not experience a DNR order placement during their primary admission for ICH (non-DNR group) were compared to patients who received a new DNR order in the first 72 hours of admission (DNR group). MEASUREMENTS Patient characteristics obtained include demographic data, past medical history, clinical data pertaining to the admission for the ICH, and radiographic images. Demographic, medical, and ICH injury data during the first three days of admission were collected. RESULTS Multiple differences in patient and hospital factors were found between patients receiving a new, early DNR order and those who did not receive a DNR order after ICH. In regression modeling, Caucasian race, direct admission, and higher ICH score were associated with placement of a new DNR order early in the course of injury. CONCLUSIONS Race, transfer procedures, and injury severity may be important factors associated with placement of new, early DNR orders in patients after ICH.

How do parents with advanced cancer communicate with their children? A qualitative study.

241 Background: Parents with advanced or incurable cancer may struggle when communicating with their children about their illness. Most literature on family communication about cancer reflects the opinions of parents with early-stage cancer or the experiences of children. The life-limiting nature of incurable illness distinguishes the experiences of parents with advanced cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe how parents with advanced cancer communicated about their illness with their dependent children. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with 46 patients with stage IV solid tumor malignancies who had at least one child under 18 years of age. Interviews addressed illness-related communication with children as well as other topics related to the experience of parenting with advanced cancer. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS Parents usually sought to protect their children by limiting details about their illness or framing discussions in an optimistic manner. Age and developmental stage of children greatly influenced how parents communicated and what information was divulged. Disclosure about the life-limiting nature of their illness varied significantly. Parents identified several barriers to communication including childrens avoidance of discussion, personal difficulty accepting the terminal nature of their illness, uncertainty about prognosis, and concerns about how to communicate with their children. Despite these barriers, many parents had not received professional guidance to facilitate their communication. CONCLUSIONS Parents with advanced cancer reported a wide diversity in motivations and techniques in discussing their illness with their children. Despite the availability of child-focused communication resources, parents identified several barriers to illness-related communication with their children. Results from this study can provide guidance for clinicians to help patients overcome these challenges and to assist parents with the difficult task of communicating with children about their illness. Future research interventions to address communication barriers may lead to improved outcomes for patients and their families.