Effects of a Primary Care-Based Multifactorial Intervention on Physical and Cognitive Function in Frail, Elderly Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Detecting and managing frailty at early stages can prevent disability and other adverse outcomes. The study aim was to evaluate whether a multifactorial intervention program could modify physical and cognitive frailty parameters in elderly individuals. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group trial in community-living prefrail/frail elderly individuals in Barcelona. A total of 352 patients, aged ≥65 years old with positive frailty screening, was randomized into two groups to receive a 12-week multidisciplinary intervention or usual care, with concealed allocation. The intervention consisted of: exercise training, intake of hyperproteic nutritional shakes, memory training, and medication review. Main outcome assessments with multivariate analysis were conducted at 3 and 18 months. Results: A total of 347 participants (98.6%) completed the study, mean age 77.3 years, 89 prefrail subjects (25.3%), and 75.3% female (n = 265). Eighteen-month assessments were performed in 76% of the sample. After 3 and 18 months, adjusted means difference between-groups showed significant improvements for the intervention group in all comparisons: Short Physical Performance Battery score improved 1.58 and 1.36 points (p < .001), handgrip strength 2.84 and 2.49 kg (p < .001), functional reach 4.3 and 4.52 cm (p < .001), and number of prescriptions decreased 1.39 and 1.09 (p < .001), respectively. Neurocognitive battery also showed significant improvements across all dimensions at 3 and 18 months. Conclusions: A physical, nutritional, neurocognitive, and pharmacological multifaceted intervention was effective in reversing frailty measures both at short-term and 18 months. Lasting benefits of a multi-intervention program among frail elderly individuals encourage its prioritization.

Effectiveness of a primary care based multifactorial intervention to improve frailty parameters in the elderly: a randomised clinical trial: rationale and study design.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a highly prevalent condition in old age leading to vulnerability and greater risk of adverse health outcomes and disability. Detecting and tackling frailty at an early stage can prevent disability. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifactorial intervention program to modify frailty parameters, muscle strength, and physical and cognitive performance in people aged 65 years or more. It also assesses changes from baseline in falls, hospitalizations, nutritional risk, disability, institutionalization, and home-care. METHODS/DESIGN: The current study is a randomised single-blind, parallel-group clinical trial, with a one and a half year follow-up, conducted in eight Primary Health Care Centres located in the city of Barcelona. Inclusion criteria are to be aged 65 years or older with positive frailty screening, timed get-up-and-go test between 10 to 30 seconds, and Cognition Mini-Exam (MEC-35) of Lobo greater than or equal to 18. A total of 352 patients have been equally divided into two groups: intervention and control. Sample size calculated to detect a 0.5 unit difference in the Short Physical Performance Battery (Common SD: 1.42, 20% lost to follow-up). In the intervention group three different actions on frailty dimensions: rehabilitative therapy plus intake of hyperproteic nutritional shakes, memory workshop, and medication review are applied to sets of 16 patients. Participants in both intervention and control groups receive recommendations on nutrition, healthy lifestyles, and home risks.Evaluations are blinded and conducted at 0, 3, and 18 months. Intention to treat analyses will be performed. Multivariate analysis will be carried out to assess time changes of dependent variables. DISCUSSION: It is expected that this study will provide evidence of the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary intervention on delaying the progression from frailty to disability in the elderly. It will help improve the individual's quality of life and also reduce the rates of falls, hospital admissions, and institutionalizations, thus making the health care system more efficient. This preventive intervention can be adapted to diverse settings and be routinely included in Primary Care Centres as a Preventive Health Programme. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov PRS: NCT01969526. Date of registration: 10/21/2013.

[Characteristics and analysis of survival of people served in the program of home care from the basic health area of Raval Nord, Barcelona, 1993-2002]. / Características y análisis de la supervivencia de las personas atendidas en el programa de atención domiciliaria del Area Básica de Salud Raval Nord, Barcelona, 1993-2002.

BACKGROUND: Longer life expectancy has led to a progressive aging of the population and to growing sociosanitary homecare. This study is aimed at describing the population of patients suffering from chronic diseases having been provided with homecare throughout the first ten years that homecare was available by a primary care team at an urban Healthcare Center, to study how often this type of care was used and to analyze the survival of those individuals having been provided with this care. METHODS: A descriptive study. The subjects under study were 1,357 chronically-ill patients included from the very start of a homecare program (May 1994-December 2002). Firstly, a descriptive analysis was made the main characteristics of this population. Afterward, using Cox's proportional hazards model, the factors linked to survival were assessed, as well as having plotted the corresponding cumulative survival probability curves using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Predominant female population (68%), and an average age of 82 (DE: 11 years). Worth of special note were the lack of elevators (76%) and loneliness (18%). Eleven percent (11%) of the patients were totally dependent for all of their daily living activities, whilst approximately 20% revealed severe cognitive disorders. With regard to the homecare, the program target of 2-3 visits/patient/year for the medical staff and off 4-6 visits/patient/year for the nursing staff were surpassed. The flu vaccine injections were always above the 70% target, whilst the tetanus vaccine injections increased yearly. CONCLUSIONS: The population cared for under this program is characterized by being greatly aged, with a high death rate and requiring continuous homecare. During the ten years studied, most of the objectives previously set were achieved.

Características y análisis de la supervivencia de las personasatendidas en el programa de atención domiciliaria del áreabásica de salud raval nord, barcelona, 1993-2002 / Characteristics and analysis of the survival of individuals cared for under the homecare program in the Raval Nord health area in Barcelona, Spain.1993-2002

Fundamentos: El aumento de la esperanza de vida ha conducido a un progresivo envejecimiento de la población y a una creciente atención sóciosanitaria a domicilio. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir la población de enfermos crónicos domiciliarios atendidos durante los 10 primeros años de atención domiciliaria por un equipo de atención primaria de un Centro de Salud urbano, estudiar la frecuentación y analizar la supervivencia de las personas atendidas en el mismo.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo. Los sujetos de estudio fueron los 1.357 enfermos crónicos incluidos desde el inicio de un programa de atención domiciliaria (mayo 94-diciembre 2002). En primer lugar se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las características principales de esta población. Posteriormente, mediante el método de los riesgos proporcionales de Cox, se valoraron los factores asociados con la supervivencia, y asimismo se elaboraron las correspondientes curvas de probabilidad de supervivencia acumulada utilizando el método de Kaplan-Meier.Resultados: Predominio de población femenina (68 por ciento), y una media de edad de 82 años (DE: 11 años). Destacan la falta de ascensores (76 por ciento), y la soledad (18 por ciento). Presentan dependencia absoluta para todas las actividades de la vida diaria un 11 por ciento de los enfermos, mientras que aproximadamente un 20 por ciento muestra severas alteraciones cognitivas. En relación con la atención domiciliaria, se superó el objetivo del programa de 2-3 visitas/enfermo/año para el personal médico y de 4-6 para el personal de enfermería. La vacunación antigripal se mantuvo siempre por encima del objetivo del 70 por ciento, mientras que la vacunación antitetánica aumentó anualmente. Conclusiones: La población atendida en este programa se caracteriza por ser muy envejecida, con una alta mortalidad y que requiere atención domiciliaria continuada. Durante los 10 años estudiados se han logrado la mayor parte de los objetivos prefijados (AU)