Prevention of Functional and Cognitive Impairment in Hospitalized Oncogeriatric Patients

Prevention of Functional and Cognitive Impairment Through a Multicomponent Exercise Program in Hospitalized Oncogeriatric Patients

Hospitalized older patients usually remain bedridden for many hours and this may lead to the appearance of unwanted negative consequences, such as cognitive or physical decline upon discharge. Our study will analyze whether an intervention consisting of a multicomponent training programme applied to patients over the age of 60 who are hospitalized for acute medical conditions in an Oncology Department of a tertiary hospital improves functional capacity and cognitive function. A total of 50 hospitalized older adult patients will be recruited in the Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. The participants will be randomized and included in an exercise intervention (n = 25) or a control (n = 25) group (hospital usual-care). The intervention consists of a multicomponent exercise training programme that will take place for 3 consecutive days (2 sessions/day). The control group will receive usual hospital care, which will include physical rehabilitation when needed. Functional and cognitive impairment after and during acute hospitalization in older adults are major determinants of the later need for health resources. If our hypothesis is correct and shows that a multicomponent, individualized and progressive exercise programme is an effective therapy for improving the functional capacity of acutely hospitalized older patients compared to usual care, a change in the current system of hospitalization may be justified in oncogeriatric patients with medical conditions

The intervention will consist of a multicomponent exercise training programme, which will include supervised progressive resistance exercise training, balance training, and walking for 3 consecutive days. During the training period, patients will be trained in 20-minute sessions twice a day (morning and evening).

Participants randomly assigned to the usual care group will receive normal hospital care, including physical rehabilitation when needed

The intervention will consist of a multicomponent exercise training programme, which will include supervised progressive resistance exercise training, balance-training and walking for 3 consecutive days. During the training period, patients will be trained in 20-minute sessions twice a day (morning and evening). The supervised multicomponent exercise training programme will be comprised of upper and lower body strengthening exercises, tailored to the individual's functional capacity, using weight machines and aiming for 2-3 sets of 8-10 repetitions at an intensity of 40-60 % of 1RM (Matrix, Johnson Health Tech, Ibérica, S.L., Madrid, Spain) combined with balance and gait retraining exercises that will progress in difficulty and functional exercises, such as rises from a chair. The second part of the session will consist of functional exercises such as knee extension and flexion, hip abduction, balance movements, and daily walking in the hospital.

The change in SPPB measured at baseline and follow-up (a measure of balance, gait, and rising from a chair) Minimum 1 Maximum 12 Higher scores mean a better outcome

The change in MMSE will be measured at baseline and follow-up. Minimum 1 Maximum 35 Higher scores mean a better outcome

The change in Barthel Index measured at baseline and follow-up (a measure of Basic Activities of Daily Living) Minimum 0 Maximum 100 Higher scores mean a better outcome

The change in Trail Making Test measured at baseline and follow-up. Minimum 0 Results are reported as the number of seconds required to complete the task; higher scores reveal greater impairment.

The change in Dual task measured at baseline and follow-up. During the verbal dual-task test the investigarors will measure the gait velocity while participants name animals aloud. The cognitive score wil be measured by counting the number of animals named (verbal dual task) or by counting the numbers that were stated (arithmetic dual task) and the errors in each task. Minimum 0 Higher scores reveal greater impairment.

Changes in the quality of life measured by the Spanish version of the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire

The change in EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, measured at baseline and follow-up. The EQ records the respondent's overall current health on a vertical visual analogue scale, where the endpoints are labelled 'The best health you can imagine' and 'The worst health you can imagine' Minimum 0 Maximum 100 Higher scores mean a better outcome

Inclusion Criteria: Age > 65 years Barthel Index ≥60 points Able to ambulate (with/without assistance) Sign the informed consent Able to communicate Exclusion Criteria: Expected length of stay < 6 days Terminal illness Very severe cognitive decline (i.e., GDS 7) Uncontrolled arrhythmias, acute pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction or limb bone fracture in the past 3 months.

The data that support the findings of this study will be available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.