Analysis of quality of life in the GET-UP trial: impact of early mobilization in patients undergoing chronic subdural hematoma drainage
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background/Objective Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is common in neurosurgery, yet the surgical approach and perioperative care lack guidelines supported by strong scientific evidence. The GET-UP Trial, conducted at the Santo António Local Health Unit in Porto, is the first randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of early mobilization after burr hole craniostomy for CSDH on clinical outcomes, with a focus on medical complications as the primary outcome. This research specifically assesses the effect of early mobilization on postoperative quality of life. Methods All 208 patients in the GET-UP trial were defined as potential participants and were interviewed by telephone one year after surgery, using a telephone version of the Mini Mental State Examination. Those who scored 16 or more were considered able to make inferences about their quality of life by applying the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2.0. Results Early mobilization group scored significantly higher in six of the eight health domains: Physical Functioning (73.4 vs. 61.7, p = 0.017), Social Functioning (88.6 vs. 75.8, p = 0.004), Mental Health (67.6 vs. 61.4, p = 0.029), Emotional Performance (87.4 vs. 78.6, p = 0.036), Vitality (61.2 vs. 50.4, p = 0.011), and General Health (58.5 vs. 47.1, p = 0.007). Although the early mobilization group also scored higher in Physical Performance and Body Pain, these differences were not statistically significant. Patients without complications had higher quality of life scores, notably in Physical Performance ( p = 0.01). Conclusion Early postoperative mobilization may be associated with better quality of life across physical, social, and mental domains one year after surgery.
Source: Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,910
OpenAlex ID: W7225020005