Preventing Hospital Associated Disability in Older Patients: Individualized Nutrition and Exercise Strategy

NCT07373587 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: p-2026-206603165-00244B
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 360
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Aproximately a third of persons older than 70 years lose physical function and ability to take care of themselves during a stay at a hospital. This is associated to an increased risk of readmission and mortality. Earlier research has shown that insufficient nutrition and physical activity during hospital stay, leading to a loss in muscle mass and strength, plays an important role in this fall in functionality. This study aims to examine if a structured and supervised resistance and mobility exercise intervention, can prevent this fall in functional ability during hospital stay among older patients. The Impact of nutritional status will be investigated by registrering caloric, protein and hydtrational intake during the study period.

Conditions

Hospital Associated Disability; Physical Function; Sarcopenia in Elderly; Malnutrition Elderly

Keywords

Older; Hospitalized; Sarcopenia; Malnutrition; Exercise intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in activities of daily living (ADL) function, by Barthel index-100

  describes the level of independence in activities of daily living, score of 0 equals total dependence and a score of 100 equals total independence

  From enrollment to discharge/transfer from the geriatric care unit (aproximately 5 days), measured again 1 month after discharge.

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Changes in mobility by Cumulated Ambulation Score

  From enrollment to discharge/transfer from the geriatric care unit (aproximately 5 days), measured again 1 month after discharge

• Changes in Knee extension strength,

  From enrollment to discharge/transfer from the geriatric care unit (aproximately 5 days), measured again 1 month after discharge.

• Changes in Hand Grip Strength

  From enrollment to discharge/transfer from the geriatric care unit (aproximately 5 days), measured again 1 month after discharge.

• Changes in Sit-to-stand performance

  From enrollment to discharge/transfer from the geriatric care unit (aproximately 5 days), measured again 1 month after discharge.

• Changes in Gait speed

  From enrollment to discharge/transfer from the geriatric care unit (aproximately 5 days), measured again 1 month after discharge.

Study Arms (2)

Control

NO INTERVENTION

The control group will recieve usual care at the geriatric care unit, with mobility exercise performed based on individual preferences and ability, performed by regular care personelle and regular physiotherapy staff.

Exercise intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The exercise intervention group will recieve two times 30 minutes of supervised exercise (mobility and resistance exercise) every day during their stay at the geriatrich care unit.

Other: Exercise

Interventions

Exercise OTHER

The participants in the intervention group will recieve supervised exercise two times 30 minutes each day during hospitalization. The first exercise pass consists of resistance exercise, and can be performed supine in bed, sitting on the edge of the bed, and in a close-by exercise area, based on participants mobility level. The second exercise pass consists of mobility exercise, aiming to transfer the participant from supine in the bed to sitting position, transfer to chair, walking with or without walking aids or walking on stairs.

Also known as: Training, Physiotheraphy

Exercise intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Hospitalized at the geriatric ward
• Speak Danish or English
• Ability to give informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Moderate to severe Dementia
• Manifest delirium

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bispebjerg Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bispebjerg Hospital

Copenhagen, Capital Region, 2400, Denmark

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Malnutrition

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Charlotte Suetta, Professor

  Geriatric research unit, Bispebjerg hospital, Copenhagen

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Kristian V Lolck, MD, Ph.d. student

CONTACT

+4560612914; kristian.kaltoft.lolck@regionh.dk

Charlotte Suetta, professor

CONTACT

charlotte.suetta@regionh.dk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Outcomes at discharge will be measured by a different investigator than at baseline, to mask the baseline measures.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 20, 2026
• First Posted: January 28, 2026
• Study Start: February 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 29, 2028
• Last Updated: January 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: When the main study is published, estimated 1. march 2028, with no end date
• Access Criteria: Data repository, URL link within the published study

Locations

DK (1)