Observatory of the Older Person: A Cohort of Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes

NCT ID: NCT06825026

Last Updated: 2025-03-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 400 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-12-31

Brief Summary

This cohort of older adults residing in nursing homes in Porto Metropolitan Area aims to monitor the health, intrinsic capacity and functional capacity over time. Through systematic data collection and analysis, the observatory provides valuable insights into aging, frailty, and long-term care needs, informing policies and interventions to enhance older adults care. This cohort aims to recruit 400 individuals aged 65 years or more at baseline.All participants will be invited for a re-assessment every year, while the overall duration is planned for four years.

Detailed Description

The Observatory of the Older Person is a cohort study designed to enhance understanding of the aging process among older adults in nursing homes. The study aims to generate insights into the determinants of functional and intrinsic capacity, identify factors influencing independence, and develop targeted interventions to improve well-being in this population.

Specifically, it aims:

• To provide a comprehensive characterization of the health profiles across nursing home population. This will include demographic, clinical, and functional assessments, as well as an exploration of variations in health conditions, nutritional status, cognitive function, and psychosocial well-being among residents.
• to examine the trajectories of functional and intrinsic capacity over time by tracking changes in mobility, strength, balance, cognitive function, psychological resilience, and physiological health.
• To determine the key factors contributing to the loss of independence in basic activities of daily living (ADLs). Physical, cognitive, psychological, and social determinants will be analyzed to identify their role in maintaining or reducing autonomy among nursing home residents.
• To investigate the risk factors associated with falls in nursing home residents. Physical frailty, cognitive impairment, polypharmacy, and environmental hazards will be examined to determine their contribution to fall risk. Additionally, the consequences of falls, including injuries, hospitalizations, and fear of falling, will be assessed to evaluated.
• To implement and assess the impact of exercise interventions designed to mitigate or reverse frailty. Tailored programs focusing on strength and endurance will be evaluated for their effectiveness in improving frailty status, reducing fall risk, and promoting autonomy among older adults.

By addressing these objectives, this study will contribute to evidence-based strategies for improving health, independence, and quality of life in nursing home residents.All participants will be invited for a re-assessment every year, while the overall duration is planned for four years. Findings may also inform policies and best practices to enhance care models within long-term care facilities.

Conditions

Frailty

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Interventions

Pragmatic exercise trial

As part of the broader Observatory of the Older Person cohort, we aim to conduct a pragmatic exercise trial in a subgroup of nursing home residents. This trial seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of a concurrent exercise intervention on frailty, functional capacity, independence in activities of daily living and falls rate in real-world settings.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Older adults aged 65 or older

Exclusion Criteria

• Any contraindication that could affect physical exercise performance or testing procedures, including terminal illness, uncontrolled disease, or other unstable medical condition;
• bone fracture in the past 3 months;
• Iinability to understand and follow the instructions of physical tests

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Universidade do Porto

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Maria Joana Carvalho

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Maria Joana Carvalho, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Faculty of Sports, University of Porto

Locations

Faculty of Sports, University of Porto

Porto, , Portugal

Countries

Portugal

Other Identifiers

CEFADE012021_B

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id