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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2008

Open Access 01-12-2008 | Research article

Interventions to prevent disability in frail community-dwelling elderly: a systematic review

Authors: Ramon Daniels, Erik van Rossum, Luc de Witte, Gertrudis IJM Kempen, Wim van den Heuvel

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2008

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Abstract

Background

There is an interest for intervention studies aiming at the prevention of disability in community-dwelling physically frail older persons, though an overview on their content, methodological quality and effectiveness is lacking.

Methods

A search for clinical trials involved databases PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and manually hand searching. Trials that included community-dwelling frail older persons based on physical frailty indicators and used disability measures for outcome evaluation were included. The selection of papers and data-extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. Out of 4602 titles, 10 papers remained that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 9 were of sufficient methodological quality and concerned 2 nutritional interventions and 8 physical exercise interventions.

Results

No evidence was found for the effect of nutritional interventions on disability measures. The physical exercise interventions involved 2 single-component programs focusing on lower extremity strength and 6 multi-component programs addressing a variety of physical parameters. Out of 8 physical exercise interventions, three reported positive outcomes for disability. There was no evidence for the effect of single lower extremity strength training on disability. Differences between the multi-component interventions in e.g. individualization, duration, intensity and setting hamper the interpretation of the elements that consistently produced successful outcomes.

Conclusion

There is an indication that relatively long-lasting and high-intensive multicomponent exercise programs have a positive effect on ADL and IADL disability for community-living moderate physically frail older persons. Future research into disability prevention in physical frail older persons could be directed to more individualized and comprehensive programs.
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Metadata
Title
Interventions to prevent disability in frail community-dwelling elderly: a systematic review
Authors
Ramon Daniels
Erik van Rossum
Luc de Witte
Gertrudis IJM Kempen
Wim van den Heuvel
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-8-278

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