South Korean study to prevent the progression of frailty and aging-related diseases using a digital multidomain intervention (SUPERAGING): Protocol of a feasibility pilot study

The rapid global aging trend has led to a substantial increase in the prevalence of frailty among older adults. We developed a mobile app-based multidomain intervention (MI) program as part of a South Korean study to prevent the progression of frailty and aging-related diseases using a digital MI (SUPERAGING). We aim to evaluate the feasibility of the SUPERAGING app-based intervention in prefrail or frail older adults.

We will recruit 40 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 to 90 years classified as frail or prefrail according to the Modified Fried frailty criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group will receive a personalized program through the SUPERAGING digital platform, comprising four components: disease management, cognitive training, physical exercise and nutritional intervention for 16 weeks. The control group will receive standard lifestyle education only. The primary outcomes are adherence, retention, and recruitment rates. The main secondary outcomes are frailty, disability, cognitive function, physical performance, nutritional assessment, mood, quality of life, vascular risk factors, and occurrence of aging-related diseases. There will be an exploratory evaluation of biological aging markers.

The intervention program will be considered feasible if the following success criteria are met: (a) a retention rate of 70% or higher, (b) an adherence rate of 70% or higher, and (c) a recruitment rate of 50% or higher.

The results will provide information on the applicability of a MI using a mobile app targeting older adults with prefrailty or frailty.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06891573. Registered on February 25, 2025.