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University of Sherbrooke, Canada [03:30 - 04:00 PM]
Title: Functional capacity and health-related quality of life are improved by combined exercise training in elderly during short-term hospitalization.
Maintenance of functional capacity during hospitalization is crucial for the elderly to maintain independence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The primary objective of this study was to determine if adding an adapted and supervised combined exercise program to usual rehabilitation care would improve functional capacity and HRQoL in elderly patients admitted to a short-term rehabilitation geriatric unit. Seventy older patients admitted to the geriatric unit were randomized to exercise (EX) or control (CTL) intervention. The CTL group received usual rehabilitation care while the EX group received an individualized combined exercise program (aerobic and resistance training, 5 sessions/week) in addition to the usual care. Functional capacity was evaluated using the Barthel index and physical capacity tests (STS-5, STS-30, TUG, grip strength, gait speed) at admission, after 2 weeks, and at discharge. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L and the SF-36 questionnaire. Sixty-three participants (80±7 years, 65% female) completed the intervention. An interaction effect was observed for the Barthel index, showing a greater increase in EX between baseline and discharge (+10.8[95%CI: 2.1;19.4]; p=0.015). The number of repetitions performed during the STS-30 improved to a greater extent in the EX compared to CTL (+2.3[0.7;3.9], p=0.005). Gait speed and TUG also improved significantly (+0.16[0.05;0.27] m/s; p=0.005 and -5.8[1.2;10.4] sec; p=0.015, respectively), without difference between groups (p≥0.53). Two dimensions of EQ-5D-5L improved in EX only (p≤0.035). The addition of an individualized combined exercise program to usual rehabilitation care improved functional capacity and HRQoL in older in-patients admitted to a specialized geriatric unit.
After having completed a PhD in exercise physiology (Laval University, Canada) and a postdoctoral fellowship (Research center on Aging, Canada), Dr Riesco started her career at the Faculty of Physical Activity Sciences at the University of Sherbrooke in 2011. Since then, she has led numerous studies in older adults with chronic diseases, supervised more than 20 graduate students, and published 45 scientific articles. She was also appointed vice-president (2012-15) and President (2015-19) of the Quebec Association of Physical activity sciences and lead the Geroscience axis of the Research center on Aging since 2022.