Individualized home-based exercise and nutrition interventions improve frailty in older adults: A randomized controlled trial
Journal
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Journal Volume
16
Journal Issue
1
Pages
119
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Hsieh T.-J.
Su S.-C.
Chen C.-W.
Kang Y.-W.
Hsu L.-L.
Wu S.-Y.
Chen L.
Chang H.-Y.
Chuang S.-Y.
Pan W.-H.
Hsu C.-C.
Abstract
Background: Frail older adults are predisposed to multiple comorbidities and adverse events. Recent interventional studies have shown that frailty can be improved and managed. In this study, effective individualized home-based exercise and nutrition interventions were developed for reducing frailty in older adults. Methods: This study was a four-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted between October 2015 and June 2017 at Miaoli General Hospital in Taiwan. Overall, 319 pre-frail or frail older adults were randomly assigned into one of the four study groups (control, exercise, nutrition, and exercise plus nutrition [combination]) and followed up during a 3-month intervention period and 3-month self-maintenance period. Improvement in frailty scores was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included improvements in physical performance and mental health. The measurements were performed at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: At the 6-month measurement, the exercise (difference in frailty score change from baseline: - 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: - 0.41, - 0.05; p = 0.012), nutrition (- 0.28; 95% CI: - 0.46, - 0.11; p = 0.002), and combination (- 0.34; 95% CI: - 0.52, - 0.16; p < 0.001) groups exhibited significantly greater improvements in the frailty scores than the control group. Significant improvements were also observed in several physical performance parameters in the exercise, nutrition, and combination groups, as well as in the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey mental component summary score for the nutrition group. Conclusions: The designated home-based exercise and nutrition interventions can help pre-frail or frail older adults to improve their frailty score and physical performance. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT03477097); registration date: March 26, 2018. ? 2019 The Author(s).
Subjects
Exercise; Frailty; Individualized home-based interventions; Nutrition; Older adults
Other Subjects
aged; Article; clinical effectiveness; comparative effectiveness; controlled study; diet therapy; female; follow up; frailty; frailty score; functional status assessment; geriatric nutrition; grip strength; home care; human; intervention study; joint mobility; kinesiotherapy; major clinical study; male; mental health; muscle strength; outcome assessment; physical performance; randomized controlled trial; Short Form 12; Taiwan; walking speed; frail elderly; frailty; Aged; Diet Therapy; Exercise Therapy; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Humans
Publisher
BioMed Central Ltd.
Type
journal article