• Haritz Arrieta, Chloe Rezola-Pardo, Susana M Gil, Janire Virgala, Miren Iturburu, Iván Antón, Vanesa González-Templado, Jon Irazusta, and Ana Rodriguez-Larrad.
• Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.
• J Am Geriatr Soc. 2019 Jun 1; 67 (6): 1145-1151.

ObjectivesTo determine the effect of multicomponent exercise on frailty and related adverse outcomes in residents of long-term nursing homes (LTNHs).DesignA single-blind randomized controlled trial.SettingTen LTNHs in Gipuzkoa, Spain.ParticipantsThe study sample comprised 112 men and women aged 70 years or older who scored 50 or higher on the Barthel Index, 20 or higher on the MEC-35 test (an adapted and validated version of the Mini-Mental State Examination in Spanish), and who were capable of standing up and walking independently for at least 10 m.InterventionSubjects in the control group (CG) participated in routine activities. The intervention group (IG) participated in a 6-month program of individualized and progressive multicomponent exercise at moderate intensity.MeasurementsFrailty was assessed by four different scales at baseline and at 6 months. The Barthel Index was measured at baseline and at 12 months. Frailty-related adverse outcomes were recorded from 12 months before to 12 months after starting the intervention.ResultsA lower prevalence of frailty was observed in the IG compared with the CG according to Fried's frailty phenotype, Short Physical Performance Battery, and Tilburg Frailty Indicator after 6 months (p < .05). There was a decline in the CG on the Barthel Index after 12 months (p < .05), whereas score was maintained in the IG. Both groups experienced a similar number of falls before and after the intervention (p > .05), but during the 6-month intervention period, fewer falls were observed in the IG than the CG (p < .05). Lower overall mortality was observed 12 months after starting the intervention for the IG than the CG (1 vs 6, respectively; p = .05).ConclusionIndividualized and progressive multicomponent exercise at moderate intensity seems to be effective to prevent falls and reduce frailty and mortality.© 2019 The American Geriatrics Society.

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