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Managing ALS

Effectively managing ALS requires collaborating with your patient, their caregivers and other specialists. Create a plan and collaborate with a team of specialists to develop patient management strategies addressing functional decline, quality of life and possibly extending survival times.1,2
 
managing ALS

Managing ALS

Effectively managing ALS requires collaborating with your patient, their caregivers and other specialists. Create a plan and collaborate with a team of specialists to develop patient management strategies addressing functional decline, quality of life and possibly extending survival times.1,2
managing ALS
Patient Interventions

Management strategies that impact disease progression

Survival time may be influenced by a number of factors, including:

ALS nutrition
Nutritional Status

Malnutrition affects up to 50% of patients with ALS, as the muscles involved in chewing and swallowing become insufficient.

If patients can still safely chew and swallow, encourage the consumption of high calorie and high protein foods. If food intake is considered unsafe, consider a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube.2,3
ALS respiratory function
Respiratory Support

Respiratory failure is the leading cause of death in ALS, so it's important to intervene early. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) earlier in disease course has been shown to extend survival times.

If respiratory function declines significantly, tracheostomy or permanent assisted ventilation is often required.1,3
ALS support system
Multidisciplinary Care

A multidisciplinary approach to patient care has been proven to help prolong patient survival times.1
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Multidisciplinary Care

The benefits of multidisciplinary ALS care

Research shows that patients who receive multidisciplinary care have a better disease prognosis. If your practice or facility has a range of disciplines and clinical specialists on staff, providing a personalized approach to care has many advantages.

Refer your patients to multidisciplinary centres, also known as ALS clinics, to enhance their quality of care. Studies suggest that ALS clinics help prolong patient survival times versus general neurology clinics.1

Patients who attended an ALS clinic experienced a:
  • 47.3% decreased risk of death
  • 7.5 month increase in average survival time4
Caregivers are important pillars of support for your patients. It is important to refer both patients and their caregivers to multidisciplinary clinics so that they can receive regular support and have access to resources to improve ALS management.1
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ALS Clinics

ALS Clinics

Multidisciplinary ALS Clinics have great resources and expertise to facilitate management and provide optimized care for people living with ALS.

The team comprises of specialists from different disciplines including:

  • Neurologists
  • Nurse coordinators
  • Physiatrists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Social workers
  • Speech-language pathologists
  • Dietitians
  • Research coordinators1

The Canadian ALS Research Network (CALS)5

Experts across Canada have come together under CALS to improve the quality of care for people living with ALS. As one network, CALS uses research and their expertise in ALS to provide patients with a wider access to resources and management strategies.
Find the right ALS clinic for your patients
Learn more and locate an ALS Society or ALS clinic in your province or territory here.
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NEXT: RESOURCES
REFERENCES: 1. Zarei S, Carr K, Reiley L, et al. A comprehensive review of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Surg Neurol Int 2015;6:171.2. ALS Society of Canada. A guide to ALS patient care for primary care physicians. Accessed August 2020 at: https://als.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/A-Guide-to-ALS-Patient-Care-For-Primary-Care-Physicians-English.pdf 3. ALS Society of Canada. A manual for people living with ALS. Accessed August 2020 at: https://als.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2012-Manual-People-Living-With-ALS-English.pdf 4. Traynor BJ, Alexander M, Corr B, et al. Effect of a multidisciplinary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinic on ALS survival: a population based study, 1996 – 2000. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003;74:1258-1261. 5. ALS Society of Canada. Strengthening Canada’s excellence in ALS clinical trials. Accessed August 2020 at: https://www.als.ca/blogs/strengthening-canadas-excellence-als-clinical-trials/