Meta-analysis shows improvement in functional capacity for acutely hospitalized older adults<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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MONDAY, Aug. 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) — In-hospital physical activity programs are beneficial for improving functional capacity of older adults hospitalized due to an acute medical condition, according to a review published online Aug. 3 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Daniel Gallardo-G \u00b3mez, from the University of Seville in Spain, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 studies, with 3,842 participants, which assessed the effectiveness of a physical activity-based intervention on at least one functional outcome in people aged 50 years and older hospitalized due to an acute medical condition.<\/p>\n The researchers found that the minimal dose to improve the functional capacity of acute hospitalized older adults was approximately 100 metabolic equivalents of task per day (METs-min\/day; ~40 min\/day of light-effort or ~25 min\/day of moderate-effort activities), while 159 METs-min\/day (~70 min\/day of light-effort or ~40 min\/day of moderate-effort activities) was estimated as the optimal dose. The most efficient intervention was deemed to be ambulation, and the optimal dose was reached at 143 METs-min\/day (~50 min\/day of slow-paced walking). Seventy-four METs-min\/day (~25 min\/day of slow-paced walking) was estimated as the minimal effective ambulation dose. Compared with usual care, physical activity interventions resulted in a decrease in the rate of adverse events.<\/p>\n “This meta-analysis has yielded critical information to support the use of physical activity as a core part of the daily routine of acutely hospitalized older adults,” the authors write.<\/p>\n