The Importance of Evaluating Symptoms and Functional Alterations in Chronic Neurological Diseases: Experiences in Palliative Care and Rehabilitation at a Colombian Institution

Abstract

There is an increase in the prevalence of neurological diseases and the burden they impose. Therefore, identifying the frequency of symptoms and the functional alterations is of paramount importance to develop an adequate treatment plan. A cross-sectional study was carried out to pinpoint the main symptoms and functional alterations in neurological patients at a rehabilitation center in Colombia. The five most frequent symptoms and functional alterations identified were: walking disorders (65.5%), communication disorders (36.98%), memory and emotional alterations (38%), pain (29.45%), and alterations in activities of daily living (24.3%). Fifty percent of the patients who reported pain, 30% of those who complained of insomnia, and 80% of those who mentioned constipation did not receive treatment during the first consultation. Some of the identified symptoms are not characteristics that define the disease, and are not always the subject of intervention. The results of this study can contribute to recognition of the burden of the symptoms of neurological diseases, by making health professionals more aware of the importance of palliative care for patients with non-oncological progressive diseases.