Older adults recently discharged from the hospital: effect of aerobic interval exercise on health-related quality of life, physical fitness, and physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of high-intensity aerobic interval exercise (HIA) with home-based exercise (HB) in older adults with chronic disease soon after discharge from the hospital.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Hospital.


METHODS
Community-dwelling older adults aged 70 to 92 (N = 115) were recruited while in the hospital. After discharge, they were randomized to HIA group (n = 59) or HB (n = 56).


METHODS
High-intensity aerobic interval exercise (HIA) consisted of endurance, strength, and balance exercises. The HB consisted of low-intensity exercises and telephone follow-up from a physical therapist.


METHODS
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Survey, physical fitness was measured using the Senior Fitness Test, and physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly.


RESULTS
Intention-to-treat analysis showed that both groups improved their HRQOL and physical activity after 3 months. Improvements on the Senior Fitness Test (chair stand, arm curl and 6-minute walk (6MWT)) were significantly greater in the HIA group than the HB group. The mean difference was 25.9 m on the 6MWT (P = .001, effect size d = 0.2), 1.3 per 30 seconds on the chair stands mean (P = .001, effect size d = 0.3), and 1.6 per 30 seconds on the arm curl (P = .001, effect size d = 0.4).


CONCLUSIONS
High-intensity aerobic interval exercise (HIA) participants significantly improved their physical fitness. Both groups increased their HRQOL and physical activity. The findings suggest that exercise therapy should be incorporated as a part of the treatment for older people at risk for functional decline.
Institute of Physical Therapy, Oslo and Akershus University College for Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Therese
T
Brovold
Dawn A
DA
Skelton
Astrid
A
Bergland
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
exercise; physical fitness; postdischarge; quality of life