Effects of a 12-week Vivifrail exercise program on intrinsic capacity among frail cognitively impaired community-dwelling older adults: secondary analysis of a multicentre randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organisation recently defined the construct of intrinsic capacity (IC), a function-based marker of older adult's health encompassing all mental and physical capacities of the individual. Multicomponent physical exercise (MCE) is a potential intervention capable to maintain/increase IC at older age; however, evidence is scarce on the effects of MCE on IC in cognitively impaired pre-frail/frail older adults. METHODS: Secondary analyses of a randomised clinical trial. One hundred and eighty-eight older outpatients (age = 84.06 ± 4.77, 70.2% women) presenting with pre-frailty/frailty (according to Fried Criteria) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/mild dementia were recruited in the Geriatric clinics of three tertiary hospitals in Spain. Subjects were randomised to participate in the 12-week home-based individualised Vivifrail MCE or usual care. An IC index was created based on the z-score of the locomotion (Short Physical Performance Battery), cognitive (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), psychology (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale Yesavage) and vitality (handgrip strength) domains. RESULTS: After the 3-month intervention, linear mixed models showed significant between-group differences in the evolution of the IC composite score (ß=0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.24, 0.74; P < 0.001), IC Locomotion (ß = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.10, 0.74; P < 0.001), IC Cognition (ß = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.87; P < 0.05) and IC Vitality domains (ß = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.25, 0.74 at 3-month) favouring the MCE group. CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week Vivifrail multicomponent exercise program is an effective strategy to enhance IC, especially in terms of locomotion, cognition and vitality IC domains in community-dwelling older adults with pre-frailty/frailty and MCI/mild dementia, compared to usual care.

Effect of a multicomponent exercise program and cognitive stimulation (VIVIFRAIL-COGN) on falls in frail community older persons with high risk of falls: study protocol for a randomized multicenter control trial.

BACKGROUND: Falls represent important drivers of intrinsic capacity losses, functional limitations and reduced quality of life in the growing older adult's population, especially among those presenting with frailty. Despite exercise- and cognitive training-based interventions have shown effectiveness for reducing fall rates, evidence around their putative cumulative effects on falls and fall-related complications (such as fractures, reduced quality of life and functional limitations) in frail individuals remains scarce. The main aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness program combining an individualized exercise program and an executive function-based cognitive training (VIVIFRAIL-COGN) compared to usual care in the prevention of falls and fall-related outcomes over a 1-year follow-up. METHODS: This study is designed as a four-center randomized clinical trial with a 12-week intervention period and an additional 1-year follow-up. Three hundred twenty frail or pre-frail (≥ 1 criteria of the Frailty Phenotype) older adults (≥ 75 years) with high risk of falling (defined by fall history and gait performance) will be recruited in the Falls Units of the participating centers. They will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). The IG will participate in a home-based intervention combining the individualized Vivifrail multicomponent (aerobic, resistance, gait and balance and flexibility) exercise program and a personalized executive function-based cognitive training (VIVIFRAIL-COGN). The CG group will receive usual care delivered in the Falls Units, including the Otago Exercise Program. Primary outcome will be the incidence of falls (event rate/year) and will be ascertained by self-report during three visits (at baseline, and 6 and 12 weeks) and telephone-based contacts at 6, 9 and 12 months after randomization. Secondarily, effects on measures of physical and cognitive function, quality of life, nutritional, muscle quality and psychological status will be evaluated. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide new evidence about the effectiveness of an individualized multidomain intervention by studying the effect of additive effects of cognitive training and physical exercise to prevent falls in older frail persons with high risk of falling. Compared to usual care, the combined intervention is expected to show additive effects in the reduction of the incidence of falls and associated adverse outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04911179 02/06/2021.

Profile and 3-month evolution of geriatric patients after a hip fracture followed-up at a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS).

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies on Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) that evaluate older patients after a hip fracture (HF) through comprehensive geriatric assessment. We aim to determine these patients' characteristics, outcomes, and prescribed treatments. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of a cohort of patients older than 65 years admitted with HFs to an orthogeriatric unit between February 25th (2013) and December 16th (2016). After hospitalization, those patients with a good baseline social, functional, and cognitive situation were referred to the FLS. A comprehensive geriatric assessment and treatment adjustment were conducted. A comparison between FLS patients and HF patients non-referred was made. RESULTS: From 1887 patients admitted to the orthogeriatric unit, 469 (23%) were referred to the FLS. Of those, 335 were women (77.2%) and 337 (77.6%) lived in the community. The FLS patients had a better functional status (97.1% of the patients with independent gait versus 79.2%) than non-FLS patients (p<0.001). After 3 months in the FLS, 356 (82%) patients had independent gait and had improved their analytical values. Antiosteoporotic treatment was prescribed to 322 patients (74%), vitamin D supplements to 397 (91.5%), calcium to 321 (74%), and physical exercise to 421 (97%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients referred to an FLS were younger, with a better functional and cognitive situation. At hospital discharge, they frequently presented gait impairment and laboratory abnormalities (anemia, hypoproteinemia, vitamin D deficiency) that presented good recovery due to the patient's previous baseline. These patients benefit from comprehensive treatment (pharmacological and non-pharmacological).

Needs of Dementia Family Caregivers in Spain During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We explored the experience from caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) during mandatory confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. An online survey, which studied the perceptions of the main problems and consequences experienced during confinement, was answered by 106 family caregivers of PwD. Results showed that family caregivers of PwD experienced psychological problems, like anxiety, mood, sleep, or eating disorders during confinement and felt less supported when they had to handle challenging behaviors or offer meaningful activities. An innovative multi-tiered supportive approach is needed which considers a post-pandemic reality and ensures the continuity of quality care for PwD and their family careers.

[Functional consequences of fragile pelvis fracture. Description of several cases attended by a consultation Geriatrics team]. / Impacto funcional de la fractura de pelvis por fragilidad. Descripción de una serie de casos consultados al servicio de Geriatría.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of pelvic fracture (PF) due to frailty is increasing, leading to an increase in functional impairment in the patient, as well as increasing morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study is to gain knowledge about the sociodemographic characteristics, as well as the functional features, of patients admitted to hospital with PF and evaluated by a Geriatrics department. The functional burden of PF and the potential influence of geriatric interventions are also assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study conducted between 1995 and 2015 on all patients older than 65 years old with PF admitted to the Traumatology department, and then assessed in the Geriatrics Department. Sociodemographic information was also collected (age, gender and place of residence), as well as data from the geriatric assessment (baseline situation and at hospital admission), hospital stay, within hospital mortality, and discharge. RESULTS: The study included 271 patients with a mean age of 81.1±7 years, and mainly women (81.2%). The median hospital stay was 9 days (interquartile range 5 to 14 days). The ability to walk independently decreased after PF from 72.3% to 3.6%. Severe disability cases increased in activities of daily living from 7.9% to 79.5%. Within hospital mortality was 2.2%. As regards medical follow-up consultations, the mean length of stay was significantly reduced compared to the assessment consultations (10.0±7.8 vs 16.1±12.0 days, P<.001) CONCLUSION: PF patients evaluated by the Geriatrics Department were mainly women, with advanced age, and a severe functional impairment secondary to PF. The intervention of a geriatrician could contribute to optimise hospital resources.