Effects of High-intensity Progressive Resistance Training and Targeted Multidisciplinary Treatment of Frailty on Mortality and Nursing Home Admissions After Hip Fracture: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Rationale: Excess mortality and residual disability are common after hip fracture.

Hypothesis: Twelve months of high-intensity weight-lifting exercise and targeted multidisciplinary interventions will result in lower mortality, nursing home admissions, and disability compared with usual care after hip fracture.

Design: Randomized, controlled, parallel-group superiority study.

Setting: Outpatient clinic

Participants: Patients (n = 124) admitted to public hospital for surgical repair of hip fracture between 2003 and 2007.

Intervention: Twelve months of geriatrician-supervised high-intensity weight-lifting exercise and targeted treatment of balance, osteoporosis, nutrition, vitamin D/calcium, depression, cognition, vision, home safety, polypharmacy, hip protectors, self-efficacy, and social support.

Outcomes: Functional independence: mortality, nursing home admissions, basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs/IADLs), and assistive device utilization.

Results: Risk of death was reduced by 81% (age-adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.19 [0.04-0.91]; P < .04) in the HIPFIT group (n = 4) compared with usual care controls (n = 8). Nursing home admissions were reduced by 84% (age-adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.16 [0.04-0.64]; P < .01) in the experimental group (n = 5) compared with controls (n = 12). Basic ADLs declined less (P < .0001) and assistive device use was significantly lower at 12 months (P = .02) in the intervention group compared with controls. The targeted improvements in upper body strength, nutrition, depressive symptoms, vision, balance, cognition, self-efficacy, and habitual activity level were all related to ADL improvements (P < .0001-.02), and improvements in basic ADLs, vision, and walking endurance were associated with reduced nursing home use (P < .0001-.05).

Conclusion: The HIPFIT intervention reduced mortality, nursing home admissions, and ADL dependency compared with usual care.