Exercise and Nutritional Intervention for Physical Function of the Prefrail: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Similarities and Differences of Interventions to Promote Physical and Psychological Health Between Prefrail and Frail Older Women: A Systematic Review

The current review aimed to explore similarities and differences in the properties of interventions that promote physical and psychological health between prefrail and frail older women. Ten databases were searched for studies published from database inception to May 2023. Two Cochrane tools were used to assess the risk of bias in experimental and quasi-experimental studies. Twenty-three studies were selected, including 11 studies on prefrailty and 12 studies on frailty. Exercise interventions were predominant, but the contents and standards of exercise intensity were inconsistent between prefrail and frail women. For the main outcomes of the interventions, balance ability and biochemical factors were measured more frequently for frail older women than prefrail older women. Psychological health was less measured for prefrail and frail older women compared to physical health. Future research needs to consider balance training, as well as the evaluation of biochemical factors and psychological health among prefrail or frail older women. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(10), 20-28.].

Management of cognitive frailty: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to compare the effectiveness of interventions in cognitive function and frailty status and rank these interventions.

METHODS

Data Sources-We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Google scholar. Data synthesis-The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the Chi-square test and quantified by I2 . The results were pooled using the standardized mean difference (SMD). The rank probability for each intervention was calculated using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Additionally, the quality of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

A total of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1110 patients were included in our analysis. The network map of cognitive function comprised 9 RCTs with 1347 participants, examining eight different interventions. Nutritional support (SUCRA = 99.9%, SMD = 3.02, 95% CI: 2.53, 3.51) may be the most effective intervention to improve cognitive function. The network map of frailty (including 9 RCTs with 1017 participants and 9 interventions) suggested that multicomponent exercises (SUCRA = 96.4%, SMD = -5.10, 95% CI: -5.96, -4.23) tended to have a greater effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Community-based multicomponent exercises have shown significant benefits for improving cognitive function and frailty status in older adults, with moderate certainty. For hospitalized older patients with Cognitive frailty (CF), current evidence suggests that nutritional support yields the most improvement. Additionally, aerobic exercise and dual-task training have proven effective in managing CF. Further studies are needed to validate these preliminary findings and exploring more accessible and effective physical and cognitive interventions to prevent CF in aging.

Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition and Activities of Daily Living in Hospitalized Older Frail Patients

BACKGROUND

Frail older adults require nursing care following hospitalization for acute illnesses. Frailty is reversible, and appropriate nutritional management and rehabilitation during hospitalization are essential. However, optimal nutritional management for patients who are unable to obtain adequate nutrition via oral intake has not been established. We aimed to determine whether peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) promotes the recovery of activities of daily living (ADLs) in frail older patients.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, observational cohort study conducted at the General Medicine Department of Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital in Aomori, Japan. The primary outcome was recovery of the Barthel index (BI) from the beginning of rehabilitation to discharge, and the secondary outcomes were the proportion of patients transferred for rehabilitation and the nutritional status.

RESULTS

In total, 342 patients hospitalized during the period of April 2018 to January 2022 were included, of whom 127 (37.1%) received PPN and 215 (62.9%) did not. Contrary to our expectations, recovery of the BI was lower in the PPN group than that in the non-PPN group (12.2 (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.5-16.0) vs. 22.4 (18.8-23.0); p < 0.01). Multivariable analysis revealed PPN as an independent risk factor for poor BI recovery (mean difference = -7.3 (95% CI = -12.7 to -1.9)).

CONCLUSION

Nutritional management through PPN for frail older adults may not improve physical activity. The nutritional management of frail patients with inadequate oral intake remains challenging.

Can Nutrition Contribute to a Reduction in Sarcopenia, Frailty, and Comorbidities in a Super-Aged Society?

Many countries are facing the advent of super-aging societies, where sarcopenia and frailty will become pertinent problems. The prevalence of comorbidities is a major problem in countries with aged populations as elderly people suffer from various diseases, such as diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and dementia. All of these diseases are associated with sarcopenia and frailty, and they frequently cause falls, fractures, and a decline in activities of daily living. Fractures in the elderly people are associated with bone fragility, which is influenced by diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Nutritional support for chronic disease patients and sarcopenic individuals with adequate energy and protein intake, vitamin D supplementation, blood glucose level management for individuals with diabetes, obesity prevention, nutritional education for healthy individuals, and the enlightenment of society could be crucial to solve the health-related problems in super-aging societies.