Frailty and sarcopenia Not Applicable
Conditions
Sponsors
Brunel University London
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Community-dwelling older adults aged =65 years 2. Mild frailty classified according to the Clinical Frailty Scale. This describes people who have more evident slowing, and need help in high order instrumental activities of daily living (finances, transportation, heavy housework, medications). Typically, mild frailty progressively impairs shopping and walking outside alone, meal preparation and housework 3. Spend the majority of the day (>60%) sitting. This will be initially measured by self-report using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire item on daily sitting (“During the last 7 days, how much time did you spend sitting on a week day?”). This will be confirmed with a device-based measure during baseline data collection 4. Functional Ambulation Category rating of =4 i.e. able to ambulate independently with or without a walking aid on level surfaces without supervision or assistance from another person
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Unable to ambulate independently 2. Unable to communicate in English in order to meet the requirements of the study procedures 3. Any unstable medical conditions 4. Cognitive impairment (score =7 in the 6 Item Cognitive Impairment Test). This test will be administered over the phone by a researcher 5. Fitted with a pacemaker as this would preclude participants from completing the muscle mass measurements
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Feasibility outcome measures calculated at the end of the study: 1. Participant eligibility will be calculated as: participants eligible/participants assessed for eligibility x 100 2. Recruitment rate will be calculated as: participants randomised / number of eligible participants screened x 100 3. Retention rate will be calculated as: participants completing the intervention/participants enrolled x 100) 4. Completion rates for the data collection measures will be calculated as: participants providing full outcome data/participants completing the study x 100 5. Acceptability of the intervention will be evaluated using self-report questionnaires that include closed and open-ended questions around engagement with the different intervention components. Self-report questionnaires will be completed by all participants to explore if the data collection measurements affected their behaviour. Semi-structured interviews will be completed with a subset of intervention participants to examine acceptability of the intervention. Semi-structured interviews will also assess the suitability of data collection procedures with a subset of control and intervention participants | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Measured at baseline, 3 months and 6 months: 1. Sarcopenia: This will be measured in line with the European consensus definition: 1.1. Handgrip strength will be measured using a handgrip dynamometer (Takei Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd, Niigata, Japan). Information on the presence of any co-morbidities that may interfere with hand grip measures (e.g. arthritis) will be collected by self-report prior to the measure being taken. This will be performed on the dominant hand whilst standing with the elbow fully extended. Participants will complete three maximum attempts with a 1-min rest between each and the average recorded45. 1.2. Muscle mass will be estimated using the Bodystat 1500 (Bodystat Ltd, Isle of Man) bioelectrical impedance device. Participants will be required to fast for 4 hours prior to this measurement and to avoid vigorous physical activity (i.e. physical activity that makes you breathe hard and fast and would make it not possible to say more than a few words without pausing for breath), caffeine and alcohol to standardise hydration status, which can affect estimates of body composition when measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis. 1.3. Physical performance will be measured using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) which includes standing balance, walking speed and rising from a chair. Standing balance will be tested using tandem, semi-tandem and side-by-side stands. A researcher will demonstrate the task and will then support one arm while the participant positions their feet. The support will then be released and timing started. Timing will be stopped when the feet move, the participant grasps the researcher for support or once 10 seconds has passed. For the semi-tandem stand, the heel of one foot (participant’s preference) is placed to the side of the first toe of the other foot. If this position cannot be held for 10 seconds, participants will be assessed with the feet in the side-by-side position. If the semi-tandem position is h | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed