AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IMPROVES PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH FRAILTY PHENOTYPE: THE FRAGSALUD PROJECT

Resumen

INTRODUCTION: Frailty has become a common state in older adults (1). This state has been defined as a progressive physiological and functional decline. Physical function outcomes have been associated as protective factors against frailty (2). Thus, interventions to reduce the impairment of physical frailty are required. This study aims to determine the effect of a health-focused educational program on physical function of older adults with frailty phenotype.METHODS: This study includes preliminary results from the FRAGSALUD randomized clinical trial. A total of 80 participants with frailty phenotype were randomly allocated in to the intervention group (n=40) and control group (n=40). The invention group assisted to 4 different 1-hour sessions during 6 months focused on key components of frailty such as frailty development, physical activity, nutritional recommendations, and mental well-being. Pre- and post-intervention outcomes included lower body performance (5 repetition sit to stand test) and handgrip strength. Results were analysed with a mixed factorial ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc comparisons, significance was set at p<0.05.RESULTS: After 6 months of the educational program, the intervention group significantly reduced the time in performing the 5 repetition sit to stand test in 6.5±14.3 seconds (p<0.05) and maintained handgrip strength in 0.06±2.27 kg (p>0.05), whereas the control group remained stable for 5 repetition sit to stand test (0.2±11.9 seconds, p>0.05) and decreased handgrip strength (3.42±6.29 kg, p<0.05). A time-by-group interaction was found for both variables (p<0.035).CONCLUSION: Our results showed that a 6-month educational program focused on the prevention of frailty is able to improve the lower body performance and handgrip strength of older adults with frailty phenotype. Thus, the FRAGSALUD educational program is an effective strategy to reduce the physical function decline in older adults with frailty phenotype which is relevant in an increasingly aging population.