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Cathy A Alessi

Publications and source records attributed to Cathy A Alessi.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Practice parameters for the treatment of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with oral appliances: an update for 2005.

These practice parameters are an update of the previously published recommendations regarding use of oral appliances in the treatment of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Oral appliances (OAs) are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA who prefer them to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, or who do not respond to, are not appropriate candidates for, or who fail treatment attempts with CPAP. Until there is higher quality evidence to suggest efficacy, CPAP is indicated whenever possible for patients with severe OSA before considering OAs. Oral appliances should be fitted by qualified dental personnel who are trained and experienced in the overall care of oral health, the temporomandibular joint, dental occlusion and associated oral structures. Follow-up polysomnography or an attended cardiorespiratory (Type 3) sleep study is needed to verify efficacy, and may be needed when symptoms of OSA worsen or recur. Patients with OSA who are treated with oral appliances should return for follow-up office visits with the dental specialist at regular intervals to monitor patient adherence, evaluate device deterioration or maladjustment, and to evaluate the health of the oral structures and integrity of the occlusion. Regular follow up is also needed to assess the patient for signs and symptoms of worsening OSA. Research to define patient characteristics more clearly for OA acceptance, success, and adherence is needed.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure↗
PubMed2006

Practice parameters for the use of continuous and bilevel positive airway pressure devices to treat adult patients with sleep-related breathing disorders.

Positive airway pressure (PAP) devices are used to treat patients with sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD) including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Currently, PAP devices come in three forms: (1) continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), (2) bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP), and (3) automatic self-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP). After a patient is diagnosed with OSA, the current standard of practice involves performing full, attended polysomnography during which positive pressure is adjusted to determine optimal pressure for maintaining airway patency. This titration is used to find a fixed single pressure for subsequent nightly usage. A task force of the Standards of Practice Committee of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reviewed the available literature. Based on this review, the Standards of Practice Committee developed these practice parameters as a guideline for using CPAP and BPAP appropriately (an earlier review and practice parameters for APAP was published in 2002). Major conclusions and current recommendations are as follows: 1) A diagnosis of OSA must be established by an acceptable method. 2) CPAP is effective for treating OSA. 3) Full-night, attended studies performed in the laboratory are the preferred approach for titration to determine optimal pressure; however, split-night, diagnostic-titration studies are usually adequate. 4) CPAP usage should be monitored objectively to help assure utilization. 5) Initial CPAP follow-up is recommended during the first few weeks to establish utilization pattern and provide remediation if needed. 6) Longer-term follow-up is recommended yearly or as needed to address mask, machine, or usage problems. 7) Heated humidification and a systematic educational program are recommended to improve CPAP utilization. 8) Some functional outcomes such as subjective sleepiness improve with positive pressure treatment in patients with OSA. 9) CPAP and BPAP therapy are safe; side effects and adverse events are mainly minor and reversible. 10) BPAP may be useful in treating some forms of restrictive lung disease or hypoventilation syndromes associated with hypercapnia.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Daytime sleeping, sleep disturbance, and circadian rhythms in the nursing home.

OBJECTIVE: This study reports the frequency of abnormal daytime sleeping and identifies factors related to daytime sleeping, nighttime sleep disturbance, and circadian rhythm abnormalities among nursing home residents. METHODS: The authors conducted secondary analysis of data collected under usual care conditions within a nonpharmacologic sleep intervention trial. All residents from four Los Angeles nursing homes were screened for daytime sleeping (asleep>or=15% of observations, 9:00 am-5:00 pm). Consenting residents with daytime sleeping had two nights of wrist actigraphy to assess nighttime sleep disturbance (asleep<80%, 10:00 pm-6:00 am). Residents with nighttime sleep disturbance completed an additional 72-hour wrist actigraphy recording to assess circadian activity rhythms and light exposure. RESULTS: Sixty-nine percent of 492 observed residents had daytime sleeping, of whom 60% also had disturbed nighttime sleep. Sleep disturbance and daytime sleeping were rarely documented in medical records. Residents spent one-third of the day in their rooms, typically in bed, and were seldom outdoors or exposed to bright light. More time in bed and less social activity were significant predictors of daytime sleepiness. Ninety-seven percent of residents assessed had abnormal circadian rhythms. More daytime sleeping and less nighttime sleep were associated with weaker circadian activity rhythms. Later circadian rhythm acrophase (peak) was associated with more bright light exposure. CONCLUSION: Daytime sleepiness, nighttime sleep disturbance, and abnormal circadian rhythms were common in nursing home residents. Modifiable factors (e.g., time in bed) are associated with sleep/wake abnormalities. Mental health specialists should consider the complexity of factors causing sleep problems in nursing home residents.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Nighttime oxygen desaturation and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in long-stay nursing home residents.

BACKGROUND: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in older adults and has been implicated as a cause of decreased quality of life and even death. Sparse data exist on SDB in the nursing home setting. The authors evaluated SDB (using attended nocturnal pulse oximetry) in nursing home residents with daytime sleepiness and nighttime sleep disturbance. METHODS: Pulse oximetry was used to estimate the prevalence of nighttime oxygen desaturation in 109 long-stay nursing home residents (mean [standard deviation] age = 86.2 [9.2] years; 74% women). Pulse oximetry findings were compared to a structured observational measurement of symptoms of SDB, the Observational Sleep Assessment Instrument. Seventy-one participants had concurrent wrist actigraphy to estimate total sleep time during oximetry recording. RESULTS: Using the oxygen desaturation index (ODI; average number of oxygen desaturations 4% or more below the baseline level per hour), the authors found that 40% of the residents had abnormal ODI (ODI more than 5, which is suggestive of SDB). Of all observational variables assessed, only loud breathing during sleep was significantly correlated with ODI (r =.284; p =.003). When ODI was adjusted for estimated total sleep time, higher adjusted ODI was associated with higher body mass index (kg/m(2)). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal ODI is common in nursing home residents. Observed loud breathing at night and high body mass index may suggest that further assessment of SDB is indicated. Future research should determine the importance of SDB and abnormal nocturnal oxygen desaturation on functioning and quality of life in nursing home residents.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Practice parameters for the indications for polysomnography and related procedures: an update for 2005.

These practice parameters are an update of the previously-published recommendations regarding the indications for polysomnography and related procedures in the diagnosis of sleep disorders. Diagnostic categories include the following: sleep related breathing disorders, other respiratory disorders, narcolepsy, parasomnias, sleep related seizure disorders, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement sleep disorder, depression with insomnia, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Polysomnography is routinely indicated for the diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders; for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration in patients with sleep related breathing disorders; for the assessment of treatment results in some cases; with a multiple sleep latency test in the evaluation of suspected narcolepsy; in evaluating sleep related behaviors that are violent or otherwise potentially injurious to the patient or others; and in certain atypical or unusual parasomnias. Polysomnography may be indicated in patients with neuromuscular disorders and sleep related symptoms; to assist in the diagnosis of paroxysmal arousals or other sleep disruptions thought to be seizure related; in a presumed parasomnia or sleep related seizure disorder that does not respond to conventional therapy; or when there is a strong clinical suspicion of periodic limb movement sleep disorder. Polysomnography is not routinely indicated to diagnose chronic lung disease; in cases of typical, uncomplicated, and noninjurious parasomnias when the diagnosis is clearly delineated; for patients with seizures who have no specific complaints consistent with a sleep disorder; to diagnose or treat restless legs syndrome; for the diagnosis of circadian rhythm sleep disorders; or to establish a diagnosis of depression.

Chronobiology Disorders↗
PubMed2005

Randomized, controlled trial of a nonpharmacological intervention to improve abnormal sleep/wake patterns in nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: Abnormal sleep/wake patterns are common in nursing home residents. Lifestyle and environmental factors likely contribute to these poor sleep patterns. The objective of this study was to test a multidimensional, nonpharmacological intervention to improve abnormal sleep/wake patterns in nursing home residents. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Four nursing homes in the Los Angeles area. PARTICIPANTS: Residents were screened for excessive daytime sleeping (asleep > or = 15% of daytime observations) and nighttime sleep disruption (asleep < 80% of nighttime hours, according to wrist actigraphy). Four hundred ninety-two residents were screened; 339 had excessive daytime sleeping. Of these, 133 had nighttime sleep disruption and consented to participate; 120 completed baseline assessments, and 118 (77% female, mean age 86.9, 90% non-Hispanic white) were randomized to intervention versus usual care. INTERVENTION: Five consecutive days and nights of efforts to decrease daytime in-bed time, 30 minutes or more of daily sunlight exposure, increased physical activity, structured bedtime routine, and efforts to decrease nighttime noise and light. MEASUREMENTS: Seventy-two consecutive hours of wrist actigraphy (nighttime sleep) and structured behavioral observations (daytime sleep and participation in social and physical activities and social conversation) at baseline and repeated at follow-up while the intervention or usual care condition was in place. RESULTS: The only effect on nighttime sleep was a modest decrease in mean duration of nighttime awakenings in intervention participants (10.6 minutes at baseline, 9.8 minutes at follow-up) versus an increase in controls (9.8 minutes at baseline, 13.8 minutes at follow-up) (F=4.27, P=.04). There were no significant effects on percentage of nighttime sleep or number of nighttime awakenings. There was a significant decrease in daytime sleeping in intervention participants (32% of daytime observations asleep at baseline, 21% at follow-up), with no change in controls (32% at baseline, 30% at follow-up; F=20.68, P<.001). Intervention participants had increased participation in social (F=22.42, P<.001) and physical (F=12.65, P=.001) activities and social conversation (F=5.04, P=.03). CONCLUSION: A multidimensional, nonpharmacological intervention into lifestyle and environmental factors that likely contribute to abnormal sleep/wake patterns in nursing home residents resulted in decreased daytime sleeping and increased participation in social and physical activities and social conversation. Nonpharmacological interventions should be considered in the management of abnormal sleep/wake patterns in nursing home residents. The main effect may be a significant decrease in daytime sleeping, which may translate to an improvement in quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Depression in older patients admitted for postacute nursing home rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence, recognition, and persistence of depression in older adults undergoing postacute rehabilitation in a nursing home (NH) setting and to explore the effect of depression on rehabilitation outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: One rehabilitative NH in the Los Angeles area. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-eight patients (aged >/=65) admitted for postacute rehabilitation over a 9-month recruitment period. MEASUREMENTS: Depression was assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) or the Cornell Scale for Depression (in participants with dementia). Medical records were reviewed for documentation of depression and antidepressant use before and during the rehabilitative NH stay. Rehabilitation process was assessed using total amount of successfully completed therapy (minutes). Rehabilitation outcome was assessed using the motor component of the Functional Independence Measure (mFIM). Measures were performed at admission and 2 months later. RESULTS: Of the 646 potentially eligible patients admitted during the study, 158 consented, and 151 were screened for depression. Forty-two (27.8%) had depressive symptoms (GDS=6 or Cornell=5). Of these, only 15 had a documented diagnosis of depression, and 12 were receiving antidepressants. Depression was associated with longer NH stay but not with discharge mFIM score. Two months later, depression persisted in 24 participants and was associated with worse mFIM (55.5+/-22.7 vs 67.0+/-23.7, depressed vs nondepressed; P=.03). CONCLUSION: Depression was common, underrecognized, and undertreated in these postacute rehabilitation patients. Depression generally persisted and was associated with worse functional status at 2-month follow-up.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

The effects of staffing on in-bed times of nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of staffing level on time observed in bed during the daytime in nursing home (NH) residents. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Thirty-four southern California NHs. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 882 NH residents: 837 had hourly observation data, 777 had mealtime observations, 837 completed interviews, and 817 completed a physical performance test. MEASUREMENTS: Cross-sectional data collected from participants at each NH site included direct observations (hourly and mealtime), resident interviews, medical record review, and physical performance tests. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, staffing level remained the strongest predictor of time observed in bed after controlling for resident functional measures (odds ratio=4.89; P=.042). Residents observed in bed during the daytime in more than 50% of hourly observations were observed also to experience increased daytime sleeping (P<.001) and less social engagement (P=.026) and consumed less food and fluids during mealtimes than those observed in bed in less than 50% of observations, after adjusting for resident function (P<.001). CONCLUSION: In this sample of NHs, resident functional measures and NH staffing level predicted observed time in bed according to hourly observations, with staffing level the most powerful predictor. Neither of these predictors justifies the excessive in-bed times observed in this study. Staff care practices relevant to encouraging residents to be out of bed and resident preferences for being in bed should be examined and improved. Practice recommendations regarding in-bed time should be considered, and further research should seek to inform the development of such recommendations.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

The yield, reliability, and validity of a postal survey for screening community-dwelling older people.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the yield, reliability, and validity of a postal survey developed to identify older persons in need of outpatient geriatric assessment and follow-up services. DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Outpatient primary care clinic at a Department of Veterans Affairs teaching ambulatory care center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N = 2,382) aged 65 and older who returned a Geriatric Postal Screening Survey (GPSS) that screened for common geriatric conditions (depression, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence, falls, and functional status impairment). Validity and reliability testing was performed with subsamples of patients classified as high or lower risk based on responses to the GPSS. MEASUREMENTS: Test-retest reliability was measured by percentage agreement and kappa statistic. The diagnostic validity of the 10-item GPSS was tested by comparing single GPSS items to standardized geriatric assessment instruments for depression, mental status and functional status, as well as direct questions regarding falls, urinary incontinence, and use of medications. Validity was also tested against clinician evaluation of the specific geriatric conditions. Predictive validity was tested by comparing GPSS score with 1-year follow-up data on functional status, survival, and healthcare use. RESULTS: Respondents identified as high risk by the GPSS had scores that indicated significantly greater impairment on structured assessment instruments than those identified as lower risk by GPSS. The overall mean percentage agreement between the test and retest surveys was 88.3%, with a mean weighted kappa of 0.70. In comparison with a structured telephone interview and with a clinical assessment, individual items of the GPSS showed good accuracy (range 0.71-0.78) for identifying symptoms of depression, falls, and urinary incontinence. Over a 1-year follow-up period, the GPSS-identified high-risk group had significantly (P <.05) more hospital admissions, hospital days and nursing home admissions than the lower-risk group. CONCLUSION: A brief postal screening survey can successfully target patients for geriatric assessment services. In screening for symptoms of common geriatric conditions, the GPSS identified a subgroup of older outpatients with multiple geriatric syndromes who were at increased risk for hospital use and nursing home admission and who could potentially benefit from geriatric intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

The effects of an exercise and incontinence intervention on skin health outcomes in nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: To examine skin health outcomes of an exercise and incontinence intervention. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with blinded assessments of outcomes at three points over 8 months. SETTING: Four nursing homes (NHs). PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety incontinent NH residents. INTERVENTION: In the intervention group, research staff provided exercise and incontinence care every 2 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (total of four daily care episodes) 5 days a week for 32 weeks. The control group received usual care from NH staff. MEASUREMENTS: Perineal skin wetness and skin health outcomes (primarily blanchable erythema and pressure ulcers) as measured by direct assessments by research staff, urinary and fecal incontinence frequency, and percentage of behavioral observations with resident engaged in standing or walking. RESULTS: Intervention subjects were significantly better in urinary and fecal incontinence, physical activity, and skin wetness outcome measures than the control group. However, despite these improvements, differences in skin health measures were limited to the back distal perineal area, which included the sacral and trochanter regions. There was no difference between groups in the incidence rate of pressure ulcers as measured by research staff, even though those residents who improved the most on fecal incontinence showed improvement in pressure ulcers in one area. CONCLUSION: A multifaceted intervention improved four risk factors related to skin health but did not translate into significant improvements in most measures of skin health. Even if they had adequate staffing resources, NHs might not be able to improve skin health quality indicators significantly if they attempt to implement preventive interventions on all residents who are judged at risk because of their incontinence status.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Translating clinical research into practice: a randomized controlled trial of exercise and incontinence care with nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: To examine clinical outcomes and describe the staffing requirements of an incontinence and exercise intervention. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with blinded assessments of outcomes at three points over 8 months. SETTING: Four nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-six incontinent residents. INTERVENTION: Research staff provided the intervention, which integrated incontinence care and exercise every 2 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 5 days a week. MEASUREMENTS: Average and maximum distance walked or wheeled, level of assistance required to stand, maximum pounds lifted by arms, fecal and urinary incontinence frequency, and time required to implement intervention. RESULTS: Intervention residents maintained or improved performance whereas the control group's performance declined on 14 of 15 outcome measures. Repeated measures analysis of variance group-by-time significance levels ranged from P <.0001 to.05. The mean time required to implement the intervention each time care was provided was 20.7 +/- 7.2 minutes. We estimate that a work assignment of approximately five residents to one aide would be necessary to provide this intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The incontinence care and exercise intervention resulted in significant improvement for most residents, and most who could be reliably interviewed expressed a preference for such care. Fundamental changes in the staffing of most nursing homes will be necessary to translate efficacious clinical interventions into everyday practice.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Minimum Data Set bedfast quality indicator: differences among nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: Excessive time in bed has negative effects on both physical conditioning and functioning. There are no data or practice guidelines relevant to how nurses should manage the in-bed times of nursing home residents, although all nursing homes receive a bedfast prevalence quality indicator report generated from the Minimum Data Set. OBJECTIVES: To compare nursing homes that score in the upper and lower quartiles on the Minimum Data Set bedfast prevalence quality indicator for proportion of bedfast residents, activity and mobility nursing care, and amount of time all residents spend in bed, and to evaluate whether residents who spend more time in bed are different from those who spend less time in bed according to functional measures. METHODS: A cohort design used medical records, resident interviews, and direct observation data to compare 15 nursing homes (n = 451 residents) on the proportion of bedfast residents, the amount of time residents spent in bed, the frequency of activity, and the scores on six activity and mobility care process indicators. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between upper (i.e., higher prevalence of bedfast residents) and lower quartile nursing homes in the proportion of time residents were observed in bed (43% vs. 34%, respectively; p =.007), and in the proportion of residents who spent more than 22 hours in bed per day (18% vs. 8%, respectively; p =.002). All nursing homes underestimated the number of bedfast residents. The residents of upper quartile homes showed more activity episodes and reported receiving more walking assistance than the residents of lower quartile homes. DISCUSSION: Minimum Data Set bedfast quality indicator identified nursing homes in which residents spent more time in bed, but did not reflect differences in activity and mobility care. In fact, upper quartile homes provided more activity and mobility care than lower quartile homes. Across all the nursing homes, most of the residents spent at least 17 hours a day in bed. Further study of activity and mobility care and bedfast outcomes in nursing homes is needed, and nurses need to note the amount of time nursing home residents spend in bed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence and costs of acute medical conditions in long-stay incontinent nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of acute medical conditions in incontinent nursing home residents, and associated costs of diagnostic testing and treatment DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study. SETTING: Three community nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: 161 long-stay residents with urinary incontinence in (mean age 86 years, 77% female, 92% white). MEASUREMENTS: Acute medical conditions were identified prospectively through medical record review based on standardized criteria. All diagnostic testing and treatment provided for these conditions were recorded, and related costs in the nursing home were assigned based on 1997-1998 Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. RESULTS: The highest incidences of illness were for dermatological conditions (107 episodes per 1000 patient-weeks, involving 70% of subjects), respiratory illnesses (29 per 1000 patient-weeks, 47% of subjects) and gas-trointestinal illnesses (24 per 1000 patient-weeks, 36% of subjects). Among episodes with an incidence of at least 5 per 1000 patient-weeks, the illness events with the highest median diagnostic testing and treatment costs per episode were pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and depression. Only 42 out of the total 1071 episodes identified resulted in a hospitalization. Significant predictors of higher illness incidence included greater baseline comorbidity and higher number of routine medications (model adjusted R-square = 0.319, P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Acute illness is very common among incontinent nursing home residents, and is generally diagnosed and treated at the nursing home site, with variation among conditions in associated costs. Important policy implications include resource allocation (including appropriate staffing patterns), educational and quality improvement activities, and future research and guideline development for the optimal management of medical conditions in the nursing home setting.

Acute Disease↗