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Effect of a multicomponent exercise programme (VIVIFRAIL) on functional capacity in frail community elders with cognitive decline: study protocol for a randomized multicentre control trial
Casas-Herrero A, Anton-Rodrigo I, Zambom-Ferraresi F, Sáez de Asteasu ML, Martinez-Velilla N, Elexpuru-Estomba J, Marin-Epelde I, Ramon-Espinoza F et al.. Trials, 2019-06-17
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Moreover, physical activity in the elderly is associated with a decreased risk of mortality, of common chronic illnesses (i.e. cardiovascular disease or osteoarthritis) and of institutionalization as well as with a delay in functional decline. Additionally, very recent research has shown that, despite its limitations, physical exercise is associated with a reduced risk of dementia, Alzheimer disease or mild cognitive decline. The primary endpoint is the change in functional capacity, assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (1 point as clinically significant). Secondary endpoints are changes in cognitive and mood status, quality of life (EQ-5D), 6-m gait velocity and changes in gait parameters (i.e. gait velocity and gait variability) while performing a dual-task test (verbal and counting), handgrip, maximal strength and power of the lower limbs as well as Barthel Index of independence (5 points as clinically significant) at baseline and at the 1-month and 3-month follow-up. If our hypothesis is correct, the relevance of this project is that the results can contribute to understanding that an individualized multicomponent exercise programme (VIVIFRAIL) for frail elderly patients with cognitive impairment is more effective in reducing functional and cognitive impairment than conventional care.
Key findings
- Moreover, physical activity in the elderly is associated with a decreased risk of mortality, of common chronic illnesses (i.e. cardiovascular disease or osteoarthritis) and of institutionalization as well as with a delay in functional decline.
- Additionally, very recent research has shown that, despite its limitations, physical exercise is associated with a reduced risk of dementia, Alzheimer disease or mild cognitive decline.
- The primary endpoint is the change in functional capacity, assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (1 point as clinically significant).
- Secondary endpoints are changes in cognitive and mood status, quality of life (EQ-5D), 6-m gait velocity and changes in gait parameters (i.e. gait velocity and gait variability) while performing a dual-task test (verbal and counting), handgrip, maximal strength and power of the lower limbs as well as Barthel Index of independence (5 points as clinically significant) at baseline and at the 1-month and 3-month follow-up.
- If our hypothesis is correct, the relevance of this project is that the results can contribute to understanding that an individualized multicomponent exercise programme (VIVIFRAIL) for frail elderly patients with cognitive impairment is more effective in reducing functional and cognitive impairment than conventional care.
Why it matters
This paper describes the protocol for a randomized trial testing whether an individualized multicomponent exercise program (VIVIFRAIL) can reduce functional and cognitive impairment in frail elderly people with cognitive decline compared with usual care. No results are reported yet, so it is too early to know whether the exercise program is effective.
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Study details
- Participants240
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Trials) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Trials: journal h-index 132 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 240 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 108 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.0 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 34 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Míkel Izquierdo: h-index 100 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Instituto de Salud Carlos III: institution h-index 649 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 10 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31208471) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Casas-Herrero, A., Anton-Rodrigo, I., Zambom-Ferraresi, F., Sáez de Asteasu, M. L., Martinez-Velilla, N., Elexpuru-Estomba, J., et al. (2019). Effect of a multicomponent exercise programme (VIVIFRAIL) on functional capacity in frail community elders with cognitive decline: study protocol for a randomized multicentre control trial. Trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3426-0
Vancouver
Casas-Herrero A, Anton-Rodrigo I, Zambom-Ferraresi F, Sáez de Asteasu ML, Martinez-Velilla N, Elexpuru-Estomba J, et al. Effect of a multicomponent exercise programme (VIVIFRAIL) on functional capacity in frail community elders with cognitive decline: study protocol for a randomized multicentre control trial. Trials. 2019. doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3426-0. PMID: 31208471.
BibTeX
@article{casasherrero2019-31208471,
author = {Casas-Herrero, A. and Anton-Rodrigo, I. and Zambom-Ferraresi, F. and Sáez de Asteasu, M. L. and Martinez-Velilla, N. and Elexpuru-Estomba, J. and Marin-Epelde, I. and Ramon-Espinoza, F. and others},
title = {{Effect of a multicomponent exercise programme (VIVIFRAIL) on functional capacity in frail community elders with cognitive decline: study protocol for a randomized multicentre control trial}},
journal = {Trials},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1186/s13063-019-3426-0},
pmid = {31208471},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-019-3426-0}
}
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