Exercise Interventions Improve Frailty in Patients Living in Long-Term Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Frailty is a significant concern for older adults residing in long-term care facilities, impacting their health and independence.
• Exercise training interventions show promise in mitigating frailty, but their effectiveness and implementation require systematic evaluation in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of exercise training interventions on frailty levels in long-term care residents.
• To explore the implementation science outcomes associated with these exercise interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials, pre-registered (CRD42024542751).
• Searched Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Academic Search Premier in May 2024.
• Included studies assessed frailty using validated tools; effect sizes (SMD) were calculated using a random effects model.

Main Results:

• Six studies involving 191 intervention and 205 control participants in various long-term care settings were analyzed.
• Most interventions demonstrated significant improvements in frailty compared to controls, with a large overall effect size (SMD: 1.83).
• Implementation outcomes, though scarcely reported, were generally positive, indicating high adherence, retention, feasibility, and low adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Exercise training is an effective intervention for improving frailty in older adults living in long-term care.
• Structured exercise should be a fundamental component of long-term care, with strategies needed to address practical implementation aspects.