Abstract
BackgroundTo counteract decline in physical performance and physical activity in older patients during hospitalization, multiple physical interventions were developed. However, it is unknown whether these are effective in this particular population. This systematic review aimed to identify the effect of physical interventions on physical performance and physical activity in older patients during hospitalization.MethodsThe systematic search included PubMed, EMBASE, Cinahl, the Trials database of The Cochrane Library and SPORTdiscus from inception to 22 November 2017. Studies were included if the mean age of the patient cohort was 65 years and older and the effect of physical interventions on physical performance or physical activity was evaluated during hospitalization.ResultsFifteen randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the effect of physical interventions on physical performance was inconsistent. Patient tailored interventions, i.e. continuously adapted to the capabilities of the patient were not found to be superior over interventions that were not. Physical activity as outcome measure was not addressed. Reporting of intensity of the interventions and adherence were frequently lacking.ConclusionsEvidence for the effect of physical interventions on physical performance in older patients during hospitalization was found uncertain. Further research on the efficacy of the intervention is needed, comparing types of intervention with detailed reporting of frequency, intensity and duration.
Highlights
To counteract decline in physical performance and physical activity in older patients during hospitalization, multiple physical interventions were developed
The number of the patients included in the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was low, only one study included more than 200 patients in the intervention group
Physical interventions continuously adapted to the capabilities of the patient were not found to be superior compared to interventions that were not
Summary
To counteract decline in physical performance and physical activity in older patients during hospitalization, multiple physical interventions were developed. It is unknown whether these are effective in this particular population. This systematic review aimed to identify the effect of physical interventions on physical performance and physical activity in older patients during hospitalization. Hospitalization is associated with a decline in physical performance [2], nursing home admission [3] and short term mortality [4]. Multiple physical interventions have been developed to enhance physical performance and physical activity in hospitalized patients. Physical interventions include examples such as exercise prescribed by health care professionals, supervised exercise sessions and physician counseling during hospitalization [10].
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