The Effect of Exercise on Physical Function and Health in Older People After Discharge From Hospital

Oslo Metropolitan University88 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a multi-component exercise program on physical function, physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older people recently discharged from hospital. The intervention consists of 32 group-based exercise sessions, performed twice a week. In addition the participants in the intervention group will be encouraged to perform an exercise program on their own, at least once weekly. The participants in the control group will be encouraged to exercise on their own, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on physical activity for adults aged 65 and above.

Older people who have been hospitalized often experience loss of function, increased risk of falls and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the post-discharge period. The reason for this is the cumulative effect of illness, bedrest during hospital stay and inactivity after discharge. Previous research indicates that exercise therapy should be an integrated part of the post-hospital treatment to prevent or postpone this functional decline and improve HRQOL. Therefore, the investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of a multi-component exercise program consisting of high intensity exercises on physical function, physical activity and HRQOL among older people living at home after discharge from hospital after treatment of an acute medical event.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Chest Pain

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 65 years or older, live in their own home, consent to participate in the program three times a week (twice a week outside their home), manage to walk with or without assistive device, and assessed by a doctor as able to tolerate the intervention. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score less than 20), have an expected lifespan less than one year, exercise more than twice a week, and score above nine points on the Short Physical Performance Battery.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in physical function

Changes in physical function will be measured with The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). This test evaluates balance, mobility and muscle strength by examining an individual's ability to stand with feet together side-by side, semitandem and tandem positions, time to walk 8ft and time to rise from a chair and return to the seated position five times. Each of the three tests is scored, based on performance between 0 and 4, leaving a maximum score of 12 for those individuals performing at the highest levels.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 months and 8 months

Secondary Outcomes

Berg Balance Scale

Berg Balance Scale is a measure of performance-based balance. It comprises 14 observable tasks frequently encountered in everyday life.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 months and 8 months

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL)

HRQOL measured by the Medical Outcome Study 36 Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36)

Time frame: Baseline, 4 months and 8 months

Physical Activity measured by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF)

The IPAQ-SF includes seven questions about the time spent in vigorous- and moderate intensity activities, walking and sedentary activity.

Time frame: Baseline, 4 months and 8 months

Muscle mass

Muscle mass will be measured by bioimpedance

Time frame: Baseline, 4 months and 8 months

Compliance to the intervention

Participants will complete an activity diary where they are asked to report completion of exercise, non-protocol activity and any adverse events related to the exercise. Patients are considered non-compliant if they have undertaken less than 50% of the prescribed exercise.

Time frame: Eight months from baseline

Feasibility of the intervention

Adverse events will be registered as outlined by Oryet al. (2005) in the following four categories: falls, cardiovascular events, musculoskeletal injuries and health care utilization.

Time frame: Four months from baseline

Amount of home-help services received

If they receive any home care

Time frame: Baseline, 4 months and 8 months

Handgrip strength

Handgrip strength in kilograms measured using a hydraulic dynamometer

Time frame: Baseline, 4 months and 8 months

Height

Height will be measured in meters

Time frame: Baseline

The Effect of Exercise on Physical Function and Health in Older People After Discharge From Hospital

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes