Exercise effects on intrinsic capacity in acutely hospitalised older adults: a pooled analysis of two randomised controlled trials

Hospitalisation often results in adverse effects in older adults, particularly an increased risk of functional and cognitive decline. Although in-hospital exercise interventions have shown benefits, their impact on intrinsic capacity (IC) remains unknown. To assess the effects of multicomponent exercise training on IC in acutely hospitalised older adults. Pooled analysis of two randomised clinical trials. Three Acute Care for Elders units. Hospitalised older adults (≥75 years). The control group received standard care, whereas the exercise group participated in an in-hospital multicomponent exercise program. The primary outcome was IC assessed using a composite score (0-100) across five domains: vitality (handgrip strength), cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination), psychological health (Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale), locomotion (Short Physical Performance Battery) and sensory function (self-reported vision and hearing). Adverse outcomes were evaluated 1 year after discharge, including emergency visits, hospital re-admission and mortality. A total of 570 patients (age 87.3 ± 4.8 years) were enrolled during acute hospitalisation [median duration 8 (interquartile range = 3) days] and randomised to the exercise (n = 288) or control group (n = 282). The exercise intervention significantly improved IC compared to the control group [7.74 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.45-9.03, P < .001], with benefits observed in all IC domains. IC score at discharge was inversely associated with mortality risk during follow-up (OR = 0.98 per each increase in IC score at discharge, 95% CI = 0.96, 0.99, P = .010), although no association was found with emergency visits (P = .866) or re-admissions (P = .567). In-hospital exercise is an effective strategy to enhance IC in hospitalised older adults. Additionally, the IC score at discharge was inversely related to the mortality risk within 1 year of discharge.