Multi-Component Prehabilitation Program for Older Adults Undergoing Major Elective Surgery: A Pilot and Feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Surgical Oncology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Prehabilitation programs aim to improve surgical outcomes in older adults.
• Adherence to prehabilitation programs can be variable.
• Assessing the feasibility of a multi-component prehabilitation program is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of an individualized, multi-component prehabilitation program for older adults undergoing major elective surgery.
• To evaluate adherence rates to different components of the prehabilitation program.
• To examine the impact of prehabilitation on physical function and patient-reported outcomes post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm trial was conducted at an academic medical center.
• The program included physical therapy, dietician consultations with protein supplementation, and group meditation for 3-4 weeks.
• Feasibility was measured by adherence rates; secondary outcomes included changes in gait speed, chair stands, grip strength, and PROMIS-Physical Function scores.

Main Results:

• 30 older adults (mean age 75.3 years) were enrolled, with 28 starting the intervention.
• High adherence rates were observed: 91.3% for physical therapy, 76.9% for dietician consultations, and 68.3% for meditation.
• Significant improvements were noted in walking speed and chair stand times, and PROMIS-Physical Function scores improved by 4.4 points at 90 days post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Multicomponent prehabilitation is feasible in older patients scheduled for major elective surgery.
• The program demonstrated good adherence and positive effects on physical function.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in larger, randomized controlled trials.