Digital health interventions for non-older individuals at risk of frailty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Frailty is a significant health problem that results in adverse outcomes, reduced quality of life, and increased medical and nursing care costs. This study aimed to review the effect of digital health interventions on improving physical activity, physical function, and social function in non-older individuals at risk of frailty.

Randomized controlled trials of digital health interventions reporting frailty-related outcomes on physical activity, physical function, and social function in non-older individuals at risk of frailty were collected. The literature was reviewed, and the risk of bias was assessed. Meta-analyses were conducted for each outcome, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation.

The review included a total of 63 records. The meta-analysis showed that digital health interventions positively affected the volume of physical activity, daily steps, walking test, walking speed, VO2peak, dynamic gait index, timed up and go test, and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey Social Functioning. However, no significant effect on the time of physical activity was found. Despite the absence of fatal bias, the overall certainty of the evidence was not high because of the small number of studies and participants included in the analysis.

Digital health interventions can improve physical activity, physical function, and social function in non-older individuals at risk of frailty. However, the evidence had limited certainty, and the evidence supporting the effect of digital health intervention is insufficient. Thus, more studies are needed to clarify the effects of these interventions.