Abstract

Background

To evaluate the utility of the revised coma remission scale (CRS-r), together with other clinical variables, in predicting emergence from disorders of consciousness (DoC) during intensive rehabilitation care.

Methods

Data were retrospectively extracted from the medical records of patients enrolled in a specialized intensive rehabilitation unit. 123 patients in a vegetative state (VS) and 57 in a minimally conscious state (MCS) were included and followed for a period of 8 weeks. Demographical and clinical factors were used as outcome measures. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were employed for examining potential predictors for clinical outcome along the time.

Results

VS and MCS groups were matched for demographical and clinical variables (i.e., age, aetiology, tracheostomy and route of feeding). Within 2 months after admission in intensive neurorehabilitation unit, 3.9% were dead, 35.5% had a full recovery of consciousness and 66.7% remained in VS or MCS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the best predictor of functional improvement was the CRS-r scores. In particular, patients with values greater than 12 at admission were those with a favourable likelihood of emergence from DoC.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the role of the CRS-r scores for predicting a short-term favorable outcome.

Details

Title
Outcome prediction in disorders of consciousness: the role of coma recovery scale revised
Author
Lucca, Lucia Francesca; Lofaro, Danilo; Pignolo, Loris; Leto, Elio; Ursino, Maria; Cortese, Maria Daniela; Conforti, Domenico; Tonin, Paolo; Cerasa, Antonio
Publication year
2019
Publication date
2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
14712377
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2211496781
Copyright
© 2019. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.