Extended stroke unit service and early supported discharge.: Short and long-term effects

Abstract

Effekter av utvidet slagbehandling og samarbeid på tvers av forvaltningsnivå.

Hjerneslag er en av de hyppigste årsaker til alvorlig funksjonshemming og død i Norge, i tillegg at sykdommen medfører betydelige samfunnsmessige kostnader. Forekomsten er ca. 14 000 hjerneslag pr. år, og antallet forventes å øke betraktelig i årene fremover da antall eldre over 65 år vil øke sterkt.

Det er en stor utfordring å organisere helsetjenesten slik at behandlingstilbudet for denne pasientgruppen blir best mulig. Akuttbehandling i slagenhet er i dag det best dokumenterte behandlingstiltak, men effekten av videre rehabilitering og oppfølging har vært et lite prioritert område for forskning.

Hovedhensikten med denne avhandlingen har vært å framskaffe mer kunnskap om hva som kan oppnås for slagpasienter ved en systematisk organisering og samarbeid mellom sykehus og primærhelsetjeneste når det gjelder behandling og rehabilitering etter akuttbehandling i slagenhet. Studien som ligger til grunn for avhandlingen ble gjennomført ved Seksjon for hjerneslag, Medisinsk avdeling, St. Olavs Hospital i perioden 1995-1998.

Intervensjonen var å konstruere en ny behandlingskjede for slagpasienter hvor fokus på bedre samarbeid med primærhelsetjenesten, oppfølging av et ambulerende team, tidlig utreise fra sykehus og rehabilitering med utgangspunkt i hjemmet ble sterkt vektlagt. Den konstruerte behandlingskjeden ble evaluert med tanke på helsegevinst for den enkelte og bedre ressursutnytting sammenlignet med det tradisjonelle behandlingstilbudet.

Studien ble gjennomført som en klinisk randomisert kontrollert studie der 320 pasienter med akutt hjerneslag ble inkludert. 160 pasienter fikk ordinær slagenhet behandling med videre institusjonsrehabilitering og/eller oppfølging av primærhelsetjenesten, mens de øvrige 160 pasienter fikk oppfølging av et ambulerende team i henhold til den nye og konstruerte behandlingskjeden.

I de fire arbeidene som inngår i avhandlingen er det sett på risiko for alvorlig funksjonshemning og død, endring i funksjonsnivå og livskvalitet, samt kostnadsanalyser og ressursforbruk av helsetjenester. Pasientene i de to gruppene ble undersøkt og sammenlignet 6 og 12 måneder etter sykdomsdebut.

Resultatene av studien viste at sammenlignet med tradisjonell behandling oppnådde pasientene i intervensjonsgruppen signifikant bedre funksjonsnivå (p=0.017) og redusert risiko for alvorlig funksjonshemning og død (p=0.044) etter ett år. De viste også tendens til bedret livskvalitet samtidig som initial liggetid i institusjon ble redusert med 40 % (p=0.032). Det var ingen økning i totalt ressursforbruk eller kostnader i intervensjonsgruppen.

Oppsummert viser avhandlingen at en slagbehandlingskjede med fokus på samarbeid på tvers av forvaltningsnivå, oppfølging av et ambulerende team og rehabilitering mens pasientene bor hjemme gir meget positiv effekt.

Den kliniske betydning av disse resultater er at en oppfølging i form av en slagbehandlingskjede i tillegg til akutt behandling i slagenhet bør inngå som en integrert del av behandlingstilbudet for denne pasientgruppen.

Arbeidene er utført ved INM og ISM, Det medisinske fakultet, NTNU. 1.amanuensis, dr.med Bent Indredavik har vært hovedveileder og Professor dr.med Roar Johnsen biveileder.

Extended Stroke Unit Service and Early Supported Discharge. Short and Long-term Effects.

Background and purpose

Stroke imposes a considerable burden for patients, their caregivers and the society worldwide. It is a challenge to organise the healthcare service that can provide effective management of patients who have suffered from stroke. Several trials have shown that stroke unit care improves the outcome for stroke patients. More limited information exists about the most effective way to organise the follow-up care after the acute care in a stroke unit. Stroke patients conventionally receive a substantial part of their rehabilitation in hospital or in other institutions that offer 24 hours-stay.

The primary aim of this thesis was to increase knowledge about the organising of follow-up care for stroke patients after the acute care in a stroke unit. To achieve this we performed a trial to evaluate the short and long-term effects of an extended stroke unit service (ESUS), with early supported discharge from hospital, co-operation with the primary health care, and more emphasize on rehabilitation at home as essential elements.

Methods

We performed a randomized controlled trial in which 320 acute stroke patients admitted to the Stroke Unit at St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital were included and allocated either to ordinary stroke unit care (OSUS) (160 patients) with further in-patient rehabilitation or follow-up from the primary healthcare service, or to stroke unit care with early supported discharge (160 patients). The ESUS consisted of a mobile team which co-ordinate early supported discharge and further rehabilitation.

Included in this thesis are 4 papers based on data from this study population of acute stroke patients followed in one year after the onset of stroke. We wanted to compare the groups in relation to independency, quality of life (QoL) and resource use and costs.

• Functional outcome were measured as the proportion of patients who were independent as assessed by modified Rankin Scale (RS)(RS<2 =global independence) and Barthel Index (BI)(BI>95 = independent in ADL) at 26 weeks and 52 weeks, the differences in final residence and analyses to identify patients who benefited most of an early supported discharge service (paper I and II). All assessments were blinded.

• The outcome of QoL was measured by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) at 52 weeks. Other outcomes measured at 52 weeks were differences between the groups according to social activity, depression, cognitive function and the burden for carers’. (paper III).

• The use of all health services during the first 52 weeks was recorded prospectively in both groups; its costs were measured as service costs and represent a combination of calculated average costs and tariffs. Hospital expenses were measured as costs per inpatient day. The secondary objectives were to explore differences in costs between the groups with respect to different types of services, time of service delivery and stroke severity (paper IV).

Results

• Extended stroke unit service with early supported discharge and co-ordination by a mobile team improves functional outcome 6 months and 12 months after stroke. The Odds Ratio for independence at one year was 1.56 (95% C.I, 1.01-to 2.44). It was most beneficial for patients with moderate stroke (papers I and II).

• Extended stroke unit service with early supported discharge can improve long-term quality of life measured by global NHP. The ESUS group had a significant better QoL after one year than the OSUS group (p = 0.048). There were no significant differences between the groups in the secondary outcomes social activity, depression and cognitive function. The caregivers who got their patients early at home did not report an increased burden compared to caregivers whose patients became ordinary stroke unit care (paper III).

• The length of initial institutional stay (hospital and rehab.clinic) were reduced with 40 % for the patients offered extended stroke unit service (18.6 days in the ESUS versus 31.1 days in the OSUS) (p=0.032). There was also a reduction in average number of total inpatient days during the first year in favour of the ESD group (p = 0.012) (paper IV).

• The total health services costs for ESUS was equal or less than costs for ordinary care during the first year after stroke. There was a non-significant reduction in total mean service costs in the ESUS group (EUR 18937 / EUR 21824). The service seemed to be most cost effective for patients with moderate severity of stroke (23% lower mean costs compared to OSUS). The important cost savings caused by reduced length of institutional stay did not lead to an increase in costs for home-based rehabilitation (paper IV).

Conclusion

An extended stroke unit service with early supported discharge improved functional outcome and reduced the length of stay in institutions compared to traditional stroke unit care. It also seems that this service can improve long-term quality of life. The costs are equal or less than costs for ordinary care.

An early, well organised discharge from hospital co-ordinated by a mobile team seems to be an important contribution in the treatment of stroke patients and should be considered, in addition to organised in-patient stroke unit care, as a part of a comprehensive stroke care.