Publications by authors named "Meskers C"
Background: Comprehensive "senior-friendly hospital" (SFH)-programs have been developed to counteract negative health outcomes in hospitalized older adults. The aim of this narrative review was to provide an overview of published SFH-programs and their elements and to summarize evidence of their effect on quality of care and patient satisfaction.
Summary: A search of the databases Pubmed/Medline from inception to July 2023 and of governmental, regional, and hospital websites was performed.
Background: Regaining walking ability is a key target in geriatric rehabilitation. This study evaluated the prevalence of walking ability at (pre-)admission and related clinical characteristics in a cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients; in inpatients without walking ability, feasibility and effectiveness of progressive resistance exercise training (PRT) were assessed.
Methods: Inpatients within RESORT, an observational, longitudinal cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients, were stratified in those with and without ability to walk independently (defined by Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) score ≤ 2) at admission; further subdivision was performed by pre-admission walking ability.
Purpose: To synthesize evidence on the effect of early post-stroke spasticity interventions.
Methods: Systematic literature search (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) encompassing studies on spasticity reducing interventions within 3 months post stroke on outcome defined within the International Classification of Functioning (ICF).
Results: In total, 27 studies were identified with = 1.
Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is prevalent in older adults and can cause falls and hospitalization. Diagnostic intermittent blood pressure (BP) measurements are only a proxy for cerebral perfusion and do not reflect daily-life BP fluctuations. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-measured cerebral oxygenation potentially overcomes these drawbacks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the prevalence and co-occurrence of common geriatric syndromes in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.
Design: Restoring Health of Acutely Unwell Adults (RESORT) and Enhancing Muscle Power in Geriatric Rehabilitation (EMPOWER-GR) are observational, longitudinal cohorts.
Setting: Geriatric rehabilitation.
Objectives: Body weight and muscle mass loss following an acute hospitalization in older patients may be influenced by malnutrition and sarcopenia among other factors. This study aimed to assess the changes in body weight and composition from admission to discharge and the geriatric variables associated with the changes in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.
Design: RESORT is an observational, longitudinal cohort.
Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is common in older adults with hypertension. Antihypertensive treatment (AHT) prevents cardio- and cerebrovascular events. However, physicians are concerned to cause OH, making them hesitant to initiate or augment AHT in older adults with hypertension.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Combination therapies are a promising approach for improving cancer treatment, but it is challenging to predict their resulting adverse events in a real-world setting.
Experimental Design: We provide here a proof-of-concept study using 15 million patient records from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Complex adverse event frequencies of drugs or their combinations were visualized as heat maps onto a two-dimensional grid.
Purpose: eHealth-based exercise therapies were developed to increase stroke patients' adherence to home-based motor rehabilitation. However, these eHealth tools face a rapid decrease in use after a couple of weeks. This study investigates stroke patients' motivation for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation with eHealth tools and their relation with Basic Psychological Needs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sarcopenia is prevalent in 20-50% of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients and is associated with functional dependence and mortality. The aim is to assess knowledge of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients on sarcopenia and their willingness and perceived barriers to start treatment.
Methods: Enhancing Muscle POWER in Geriatric Rehabilitation (EMPOWER-GR) is an observational cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Aims: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) serve multiple purposes, including shared decision-making and patient communication, treatment monitoring, and health technology assessment. Patient monitoring using PROMs is constrained by recall and non-response bias, respondent burden, and missing data. We evaluated the potential of behavioural digital biomarkers obtained from a wearable accelerometer to achieve personalized predictions of PROMs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Purpose: Pre-stroke impairment of activities of daily living (ADL) is considered a major determinant for functional outcome after stroke. However, findings are based on studies in stroke patients in which pre-stroke information is gathered retrospectively, with inherent risks of selection and recall bias. The objective of this study was to verify the predictive value of pre-stroke ADL with respect to ADL decline in a large prospective cohort of community dwelling older subjects with known vascular risk factors or vascular disease, thereby minimizing selection and recall bias.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis case report concerns a patient suffering from traumatic spinal cord injury with severe spasticity treated with intrathecal baclofen therapy. After revision surgery for a confirmed catheter obstruction, progressive spasticity reappeared. Diagnostics demonstrated signs of catheter fracture or disconnection adjacent to the pump.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and explore the efficacy of the Arm Activity Tracker (AAT). The AAT is a device based on wrist-worn accelerometers that provides visual and tactile feedback to stimulate daily life upper extremity (UE) activity in stroke patients.
Methods: A randomised, crossover within-subject study was conducted in sub-acute stroke patients admitted to a rehabilitation centre.
Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is an established and common cardiovascular risk factor for falls. An in-depth understanding of the various interacting pathophysiological pathways contributing to OH-related falls is essential to guide improvements in diagnostic and treatment opportunities. We applied systems thinking to multidisciplinary map out causal mechanisms and risk factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common issue in older adults, linked to various health problems like dizziness and falls, and is diagnosed through single-time blood pressure measurements.
- This study explored the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to continuously measure cerebral oxygenation and its relationship with blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood velocity (CBv) during posture changes in 41 participants aged 20-88.
- Results showed that BP and NIRS-measured oxygen levels correlated well shortly after standing, while longer-term associations were weak, highlighting the importance of NIRS for understanding OH repercussions during postural changes.
Background: Physiotherapy (PT) is important to optimize functional recovery in geriatric rehabilitation. The dose of PT received by inpatients during geriatric rehabilitation and the determinants of dose are unknown.
Objectives: Describe PT dose in terms of total number of sessions, frequency, duration and type of sessions, and inpatient characteristics determining the frequency of PT in geriatric rehabilitation.
Background: Mobility is a key determinant and outcome of healthy ageing but its definition, conceptual framework and underlying constructs within the physical domain may need clarification for data comparison and sharing in ageing research. This study aimed to (1) review definitions and conceptual frameworks of mobility, (2) explore agreement on the definition of mobility, conceptual frameworks, constructs and measures of mobility, and (3) define, classify and identify constructs.
Methods: A three-step approach was adopted: a literature review and two rounds of expert questionnaires (n = 64, n = 31, respectively).
Purpose: Telerehabilitation systems have the potential to enable therapists to monitor and assist stroke patients in achieving high-intensity upper extremity exercise in the home environment. We adopted an iterative user-centred approach, including multiple data sources and meetings with end-users and stakeholders to define the user requirements for home-based upper extremity rehabilitation using wearable motion sensors for subacute stroke patients.
Methods: We performed a requirement analysis consisting of the following steps: 1) context & groundwork; 2) eliciting requirements; 3) modelling & analysis; 4) agreeing requirements.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of the Ending PyJama (PJ) Paralysis campaign on sedentary behavior and physical activity in geriatric rehabilitation patients, comparing two hospital wards with and without the campaign.
- Using inertial sensors, researchers measured the physical activity levels of 145 inpatients and assessed how these levels correlated with changes in physical and functional performance.
- Results showed no significant differences in sedentary behavior and activity levels due to the campaign, but lower sedentary time and higher physical activity were linked to improvements in physical performance, particularly for patients with low initial performance.
Background And Purpose: Despite being associated with serious adverse outcomes, such as mortality, sarcopenia remains largely undiagnosed in older individuals. This study aimed to assess the awareness, practices, and barriers and enablers to clinical implementation of sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment among geriatric rehabilitation health care professionals in the Netherlands.
Methods: As part of EMPOWER-GR, a cross-sectional survey among geriatric rehabilitation health care professionals working in the Netherlands was undertaken between September 23, 2020, and January 28, 2021.
Background: Sarcopenia is prevalent in 20-50% of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients, but it is often undiagnosed.
Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) to measure muscle mass in routine clinical care in a cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.
Methods: REStORing Health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT) is an observational, longitudinal inception cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined the link between knowledge of nutrition and physical activity guidelines and actual physical function and activity levels in older adults, highlighting a general lack of correlation and distinct knowledge gaps.
- - Among the 106 well-educated and healthy participants (average age 70), knowledge of nutrition did show a positive association with handgrip strength in males and faster gait speed in females, but overall, knowledge did not significantly connect to physical health outcomes.
- - The results suggest that in this educated group, factors other than knowledge—such as attitudes and personal behaviors—might play a more crucial role in determining health and physical activity levels.
Background: according to the revised sarcopenia definition proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) and revised definition of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS2019), handgrip strength (HGS) and chair stand test (CST) can be used interchangeably as initial diagnostic measures.
Objective: to assess the agreement between sarcopenia prevalence, using either HGS or CST, and their association with adverse outcomes in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.
Methods: REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs is an observational, longitudinal cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.