title: Impact of a Home-Based Physical and Nutritional Intervention Program Conducted by Lay-Volunteers on Handgrip Strength in Prefrail and Frail Older Adults: A Randomized Control Trial.
abstract: A randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the effects of a home-based physical and nutritional intervention program carried out by lay-volunteers to home visits with social support alone. Buddies visited 80 prefrail or frail older persons at home twice a week for 12 weeks. The physical training and nutrition group (PTN, n = 39) performed two sets of six strength exercises, discussed nutritional topics and received social support. The social support group (SoSu, n = 41) received home visits with social support only. In the PTN group, handgrip strength increased significantly by 2.4 kg (95% CI: 1.0-3.8). In the SoSu group we did not see a significant improvement. However, no significant between-group difference was found. Physical performance increased in both groups, although with a higher increase of 1.0 point (95% CI: 0.1-2.0) in the PTN group. In none of the groups muscle mass changed. Further results showed that frail individuals benefit more from the intervention than prefrail individuals (OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.01-7.66). Handgrip strength in the intervention group increased by a clinically relevant value and this effect is comparable to that obtained by health-care professionals. Therefore, home visits with a physical training and nutritional program could offer a new perspective in the care of community-dwelling prefrail and frail older persons.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Dorner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology And Nutrition (SIPCAN), Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Titze
authors.affiliation: SPORTUNION Austria, Department for Health Promotion and Prevention, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lackinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Schindler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014838:Volunteers