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Screening and treating adults for lipid disorders.

CONTEXT: Screening and treatment of lipid disorders in people at high risk for future coronary heart disease (CHD) events has gained wide acceptance, especially for patients with known CHD, but the proper role in people with low to medium risk is controversial. OBJECTIVE: To examine the evidence about the benefits and harms of screening and treatment of lipid disorders in adults without known cardiovascular disease for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. DATA SOURCES: We identified English-language articles on drug therapy, diet and exercise therapy, and screening for lipid disorders from comprehensive searches of the MEDLINE database from 1994 through July 1999. We used published systematic reviews, hand searching of relevant articles, the second Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, and extensive peer review to identify important older articles and to ensure completeness. DATA SYNTHESIS: There is strong, direct evidence that drug therapy reduces CHD events, CHD mortality, and possibly total mortality in middle-aged men (35 to 65 years) with abnormal lipids and a potential risk of CHD events greater than 1% to 2% per year. Indirect evidence suggests that drug therapy is also effective in other adults with similar levels of risk. The evidence is insufficient about benefits and harms of treating men younger than 35 years and women younger than 45 years who have abnormal lipids but no other risk factors for heart disease and low risk for CHD events (less than 1% per year). Trials of diet therapy for primary prevention have led to long-term reductions in cholesterol of 3% to 6% but have not demonstrated a reduction in CHD events overall. Exercise programs that maintain or reduce body weight can produce short-term reductions in total cholesterol of 3% to 6%, but longer-term results in unselected populations have found smaller or no effect. To identify accurately people with abnormal lipids, at least two measurements of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are required. The role of measuring triglycerides and the optimal screening interval are unclear from the available evidence. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the effectiveness of treatment, the availability of accurate and reliable tests, and the likelihood of identifying people with abnormal lipids and increased CHD risk, screening appears to be effective in middle-aged and older adults and in young adults with additional cardiovascular risk factors.

Adult↗

Contraindications to physical training in patients with impaired ventricular function.

Exercise performance in patients with impaired ventricular function does not correlate well with the severity of dysfunction. Patients with ventricular dysfunction can achieve a fairly high work capacity, and the physiological variables respond in a similar way, regardless of whether or not the patients do or do not have impaired function. Furthermore, patients with pump dysfunction can benefit from a supervised physical training programme by improving their functional capacity and thus, their quality of life. The absolute contraindications for exercise therapy in this group of patients with coronary artery disease should therefore be identical to those who have normal ventricular function. In our opinion, special attention should be exercised in patients who have chronotropic incompetence, lack of an elevation or decrease in blood pressure during exercise performance and in those whose stroke volume is not elevated during even low to moderate work-loads. Recommendations as to the implication of exercise therapy as a therapeutic modality in patients with ventricular impairment must be accepted with caution. The reason for this is that our observations are based on historical, anecdotal trials, most of which included only a modest number of patients. Future research and a prolonged follow-up is needed in order to obtain both a more exact analysis and eventually scientifically based evidence on the benefits and hazards involved.

Coronary Disease↗

Moderately intensive exercise in a temperate pool for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of moderately intensive pool exercise therapy on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Forty-six patients with chronic RA were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group (n = 20) exercised in a temperate pool twice a week for 12 weeks. The control group (n = 23) continued with their previous activities. Aerobic capacity, measured by means of a submaximum bicycle test, and the physical component of the SF-36 were chosen as the primary outcome measures. Two tests of muscle endurance were chosen as the secondary outcome measure. Additional functional tests and instruments were included. RESULTS: No significant differences between the groups were found for the primary outcome measures. Significant improvements in the following aspects of muscular function (P < 0.05) were found in the treatment group when their performance was compared with that of the control group: isometric shoulder endurance, grip force, dynamic endurance of lower extremities (chair test) and muscle function of lower extremities. Significant improvements were also found for vitality (SF-36) compared with the control group. The improvements in the training group were maintained for 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Pool exercise therapy of moderate intensity significantly improved muscle endurance in the upper and lower extremities in patients with RA, while no impact on aerobic capacity was found. However, the study population was small and there is a need for further studies with larger populations.

Adult↗

Exercise rehabilitation in chronic heart failure.

In acute heart failure with pulmonary edema, rest is a useful adjunct to pharmacologic treatment because it increases urinary flow and enhances the effectiveness of diuretic drugs. In chronic heart failure, however, there is increasing evidence that avoiding exercise can lead to deconditioning changes in skeletal muscle and in the peripheral circulation that may actually impair exercise tolerance. Exercise training was introduced as part of postinfarction rehabilitation in the 1960s, but it was not tested in patients with heart failure until well into the 1980s. Several reports have now shown considerable improvements in exercise capacity after physical training in patients with stable chronic nonedematous heart failure. Many of the peripheral abnormalities described in chronic heart failure have been shown to be at least partially reversible after physical training. These include abnormalities of skeletal muscle, respiratory gas exchange and autonomic nervous control of the circulation. Controversy still exists as to whether training may have beneficial prognostic effects in chronic heart failure and how soon after myocardial infarction it is safe to commence training. In addition, little information exists as to the most appropriate form of exercise therapy and the proper criteria for patient selection into training programs. Exercise training seems set to become a popular and beneficial adjunct to the management of patients with chronic heart failure. It has been shown to have a beneficial effect on symptoms, exercise performance and a host of pathophysiologic changes characteristic of chronic heart failure. Whether it improves prognosis is not known.

Cardiovascular System↗

Efficacy of shoulder range of motion exercise in hospitalized patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

The rationale for inpatient (phase 1) exercise therapy after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has been generalized from studies after myocardial infarction (MI) and bed rest. However, patients after CABG surgery are unlike patients after MI with regard to surgical trauma restoration of coronary circulation, and length of hospital stay. Most phase 1 exercise routines include a variety of range of motion (ROM) exercises, many of which focus on shoulder joint mobility. The purpose of our study was to examine the effect of shoulder ROM exercise therapy on inpatients after CABG surgery, because data in this area are limited. The results indicate that ROM exercises do not significantly (p greater than 0.05) ameliorate the early ROM loss associated with surgery. We conclude that the loss of shoulder ROM observed after surgery is a function of the surgical procedure and not lack of ROM challenge.

Aged↗

Influence of workload on the antihypertensive effect of exercise.

1. The relation between workload and the antihypertensive effect of exercise therapy in hypertensive patients, and the mechanism of that effect, were investigated. 2. Twenty-six patients participated in the study and were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of either low or high workload exercise. In the low workload group, 16 mild hypertensive patients were treated with bicycle ergometer exercise at approximately 50% of their maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) for 60 min three times a week for 10 weeks. In the high workload group, 10 mild hypertensive patients exercised on the same schedule, but at approximately 75% of VO2max. 3. After 10 weeks of exercise, the low workload group had significantly lower systolic (9 mmHg), mean (6 mmHg) and diastolic (6 mmHg) blood pressures. In the high workload group, decreases in systolic (3 mmHg), mean (4 mmHg) and diastolic (5 mmHg) blood pressure were not statistically significant. 4. In the low workload group, changes in haemodynamic and humoral variables were not significant, except for a reduction in plasma norepinephrine at week 7. Cardiac index and plasma norepinephrine tended to decrease. In the high workload group, plasma norepinephrine and the renin-angiotensin system were transiently stimulated after 4 weeks of exercise. Stroke volume significantly increased (+26.4%) after 10 weeks of high workload exercise. 5. Based on these results and better patient compliance with the exercise programme in the low workload group than in the high workload group, low workload exercise therapy was recommended to mild hypertensive patients.

Adult↗

[Drugs in the coronary group (author's transl)].

The indication for either digitalis or exercise-therapy has to be reevaluated continuously. Reserpine enhances the toxic effect of digitalis. Beta-receptorblockers and nitrates complement each other and should be administrated on a large scale (supplemented prophylactically by nitrocompounds before exercise). The monotherapy aimed at should be initiated with a beta-receptorblocker in patients up to 50 years of age. Diuretics are the second type of drugs. Exercise therapy is contraindicated absolutely in cases of complex ventricular extrasystoles and relatively contraindicated for simple ventricular extrasystoles.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Exercise in therapy and prevention of type II diabetes. Implications for blacks.

The rationale for the use of exercise in the treatment of type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes and its special implications for Blacks are reviewed herein. When performed on a regular basis, exercise may improve glycemic control and improve several risk factors for coronary heart disease including hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and hyperinsulinemia. In addition, it may be a useful adjunct to diet in producing weight loss. The metabolic benefits of exercise in part appear to be related to its ability to enhance insulin sensitivity. Benefits are short lived after discontinuing exercise. Because of problems with compliance and concurrent medical problems, many patients with type II diabetes are not good candidates for an exercise-diet program. For this reason, the optimum target population may be people at risk for type II diabetes and premature atherosclerosis. Such a population might include the offspring of patients with these disorders and individuals with impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, gestational diabetes, and/or an android pattern of fat distribution. Type II diabetes is more common in Blacks than in the general population. In most instances, it is associated with cardiovascular risk factors benefited by exercise. Despite this, there are no available studies regarding the effects of regular exercise in Blacks with type II diabetes or those at risk for it.

Black or African American↗

Effect of a twelve-hour hiatus in propranolol therapy on exercise tolerance in patients with angina pectoris.

To determine whether propranolol can be administered twice daily without any loss of antianginal effect, we studied nine men receiving long-term propranolol therapy for stable angina pectoris. Each patient performed bicycle exercise to the point of angina on two consecutive mornings. By means of double-blind placebo-propranolol administration before the test, the study created a situation whereby on one day the exercise took place 12 hours after the last dose of propranolol, and on the other day 1 1/2 hours after a dose. Despite markedly lower blood levels of propranolol on the day that exercise was performed 12 hours after the last dose, exercise time to angina was nearly identical on the 2 days. We conclude that long-term therapy with propranolol for angina pectoris can be administered on a twice daily basis with no loss of effectiveness.

Adult↗

[Use of physical therapy measures in the rehabilitation of patients having undergone radical mastectomy].

Low-frequency electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, massage, exercise therapy and drugs were used in 90 patients who after radical treatment for breast cancer suffered pain and limited mobility in the shoulder joint. These procedures were intended to treat said complications, to normalize reflexes and to cut down the period of rehabilitative therapy. The treatment proved effective. No untoward effects on the course of the disease were observed within the first 3-5 years.

Electric Stimulation Therapy↗

Success of an outpatient claudication group training program for patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD): the Tübingen model.

Active exercise therapy plays a decisive role in the prognosis for early forms of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (stages I and II). We present a model project for an outpatient claudication group which has proved successful in the active exercise therapy of early forms of arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). In addition to the training principles familiar from intensified, performance-keyed walking programs, a newly developed pedal ergometer was employed which makes controlled endurance training possible for this patient group. The distance patients were able to walk without pain increased significantly in 17 out of the 26 patients taking part in the program. This clinical success was confirmed by an examination of arterial hemodynamics. The transformation of a theoretical concept into a functioning training program and the positive results achieved with it should encourage others to establish similar programs close to the patients' homes.

Adult↗

Disability and chronic fatigue syndrome: a focus on function.

BACKGROUND: Evidence was sought in the published literature on how best to measure, monitor, and treat disability in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). METHODS: A systematic review was performed of English-language literature published between January 1, 1988, and November 15, 2001. Interventional and observational studies of adults with CFS were eligible if they reported measures of disability and employment. A qualitative synthesis of results relating impairment measures to employment was performed. RESULTS: Of 3840 studies identified, 37 reported employment status and some measure of mental or physical impairment associated with disability. Most patients with CFS in these studies were unemployed. In 22 studies, the employment status of control subjects was also available. Only depression seemed to be associated with unemployment in patients with CFS. No other measurable impairment seemed to be consistently associated with disability or work outcomes. Only cognitive behavior therapy, rehabilitation, and exercise therapy interventions were associated with restoring the ability to work. No specific patient characteristics were identified as best predictors of positive employment outcomes. No quantitative syntheses of results were performed. CONCLUSIONS: For questions of disability and employment in CFS, the limitations inherent in the current literature are extensive. Methodologically rigorous, longitudinal, and interventional studies are needed to determine baseline characteristics that are associated with the inability to work and interventions that are effective in restoring the ability to work in the CFS population. Simple and consistent evaluations of functional capacity in patients with CFS are needed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Treatment of sleep disorders in elderly patients.

Sleep disorders are common among the elderly and are associated with diminished quality of life, increased risk for development of psychiatric disorders, inappropriate use of sleep aids, and decreased daytime functioning. The most common and important sleep disorders in the elderly include insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, restless legs syndrome, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and the advanced sleep phase syndrome. In this article, we summarize the current treatment strategies for each of these sleep-related disorders. Before contemplating specific treatments, the authors recommend that more conservative and nonpharmacologic therapies be attempted first because the elderly are more likely to have medication side effects or complications related to surgery. Many sleep problems can be treated by simple sleep hygiene modifications that can be implemented and adopted easily. For others, therapies that specifically consider older adults may be required. For each of the sleep disorders we provide an updated discussion of therapies beginning with diet and lifestyle, pharmacologic treatment, interventional procedures, surgery, assistive devices, physical and speech therapy, exercise, and emerging therapies with specific considerations for older adults.

Journal Article↗

[New aspects in the treatment of Scheuermann's disease with hippotherapy (author's transl)].

It had already been shown by clinical and x-ray examinations that various types of riding therapy exercise a favourable influence on the shape of the vertebral column. This has now been confirmed by means of analytical movement studies. Whereas the active exercises in riding therapy strengthen the musculature, especially in the region of the trunk, hippotherapy deserves special attention, since it has a considerable influence on the removal or at least reduction of segment fixation of the various parts of the spinal column. This form of therapy, as part of physiotherapy, is absolutely indispensable since it achieves a multitude of therapeutic aims. It is pointed out that hippotherapy does not involve any risk of damaging the intervertebral disks as a result of pressure.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by the general practitioner for patients with neck pain: long-term results from a pragmatic randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The authors' goals were to compare the effectiveness of manual therapy (MT; mainly spinal mobilization), physical therapy (PT; mainly exercise therapy), and continued care by the general practitioner (GP; analgesics, counseling and education) over a period of 1 year. METHODS: One hundred eighty-three patients suffering for at least 2 weeks from nonspecific neck pain were randomized to receive a 6-week treatment strategy of MT once a week, PT twice a week, or GP care once every 2 weeks. The primary outcome measures were perceived recovery, severity of physical dysfunctioning, pain intensity, and functional disability. RESULTS: The differences between groups considered over 1 year were statistically significant (repeated measurements analyses P<0.001 to P=0.02) for all outcomes but borderline for the Neck Disability Index (P=0.06). Higher improvement scores were observed for MT for all outcomes, followed by PT and GP care. The success rate, based on perceived recovery after 13 weeks, was 72% for MT, which was significantly higher than the success rate for continued GP care (42%, P=0.001) but not significantly higher compared with PT treatment (59%, P=0.16). The difference between PT and GP approached statistical significance (P=0.06). After 1 year the success rates were 75%, 63%, and 56%, respectively, and no longer significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term results (at 7 weeks) have shown that MT speeded recovery compared with GP care and, to a lesser extent, also compared with PT. In the long-term, GP treatment and PT caught up with MT, and differences between the three treatment groups decreased and lost statistical significance at the 13-week and 52-week follow-up.

Adolescent↗

[Use and acceptance of classical natural and alternative medicine in Germany--findings of a representative population-based survey].

BACKGROUND: The use of classical natural therapies and alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular in Germany and other European countries. Only few population-based studies in Germany have investigated the use and acceptance of a variety of classical and alternative methods, including their possible determinants. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of men and women aged 18 to 69 years, applying a standardized self-administered questionnaire, that included questions on 21 different healing methods, on personal reasons for use, on individual attitudes to natural therapies, and on the socioeconomic background. RESULTS: Overall, 70% of women and 54% of men had used at least one classical natural or alternative healing method (including homeopathic and anthroposophic medicine) during the 12 months preceding the study. The most frequently used methods were classical therapies such as exercise therapy (32% of women, 26% of men), herbal medicine (33% of women, 20% of men), hydrotherapy (24% of women, 17% of men), and medical massage (22% of women, 15% of men). About 20% of women and 10% of men had applied homeopathic therapies, and about 9% (11% women, 6% men) had used acupuncture. In multivariate logistic regression analyses gender and education were the best predictors of classical and alternative medicine use. Women and persons with at least high-school education used these methods significantly more often than men and persons with lower education. Age-stratified analyses revealed that the age-group of the 40-49-year-old people used classical and alternative methods significantly more often than younger or older age-groups. The most frequently reported health problems for which natural therapies had been applied were back pain (57%), cold (29%), headaches (19%), strain (15%) and gastrointestinal ailments (12%). Overall, the efficacy and usefulness of natural healing methods was evaluated positive by the majority of the study population. 58% would appreciate it if physicians would more often prescribe such therapies, and 48% would like to have more information about the benefit of natural healing methods. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of use of natural medicine varies substantially across different types of healing methods. The observed overall acceptance together with the marked need for more information should be used more intensively for the development of health promotion strategies and underpins the necessity of reinforced research activities in this field.

Adolescent↗