Functional Decline

The goal of this randomized controlled study is to learn if, in addition to nurses, community members can be trained as health coaches to deliver the HealthyLifetime (HL) program to people without complex chronic health conditions, an intervention that provides a short-term and effective health coaching intervention delivered through a virtual platform to improve health, resiliency, and independent self-care to participants who are without complex chronic conditions. The main question it aims to answer is: • Can Community Health Coaches achieve the same level of competency and outcome as Nurse Health Coaches in participants without complex chronic conditions?

Older adults with breast cancer frequently present with frailty, decreased functional reserve, and increased risk of postoperative complications. Prehabilitation programs have emerged as a promising strategy to improve physical function and clinical outcomes; however, evidence in geriatric oncology remains limited, particularly regarding the role of biological markers in predicting response to such interventions. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent prehabilitation program in older adults with breast cancer, focusing on functional status, clinical outcomes, and quality of life. In addition, the study seeks to characterize biological markers associated with frailty and treatment response, with the goal of identifying potential predictors of benefit from prehabilitation. Participants will undergo a structured prehabilitation intervention including physical exercise, nutritional optimization, and comprehensive geriatric assessment. Clinical, functional, and biomarker data will be collected longitudinally. The results of this study may contribute to improving personalized care strategies in geriatric oncology and to identifying patients who are most likely to benefit from prehabilitation programs.

This study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the electronic Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (eCGA) in primary care for adults aged 65 years and older. The study examines how frailty changes over 12 months, how patient self-assessments compare with physician assessments, and how patients perceive the value of the eCGA when used as part of routine care. The study also includes an interventional randomized sub-study (PAHA), in which eligible participants receive a personalized physical activity program developed by a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Participants are randomized to either an immediate-start or delayed-start exercise group, allowing assessment of the effects of a tailored activity intervention on frailty, physical activity participation, and goal attainment. Findings will inform how eCGA tools and personalized activity interventions can be integrated into primary care to support healthy aging and frailty management.

This observational study aims to monitor functional status and identify potential declines in the functioning of medically fragile patients with neurological and/or orthopedic conditions, representing an added value for ensuring appropriate patient management. This approach improves system efficiency and supports a proactive strategy that promotes the appropriate use of resources.

This study investigates the anticholinergic burden on patients seen in the Subacute mobile outpatient geriatric clinic in Aalborg, Denmark, between the years of 2024 and 2025. The age demographic in Denmark and multiple other countries is changing rapidly, with more old and very old individuals as a result. As humans become older, they tend to accumulate more illnesses, and the risk of polypharmacy increases. There is a wide selection of medicine that affect the binding of acetylcholine to the muscarinic receptors, which is either the intended function of the pharmacological product or a side effect. Since there is no built-in feature in computer systems used by doctors to calculate the cumulative anticholinergic burden, it is often not recognized, thus not reflected upon. This raises concerns about potential central and peripheral side effects, such as altered mental status, visual disturbances, tachycardia, urinary and fecal retention, dry skin etc. The study aims to determine the prevalence of anticholinergics in the last 100 patients seen by the Subacute mobile outpatient geriatric clinic in Aalborg University Hospital. The patients are placed in municipal extended-care facilities. Furthermore, the study will investigate the prevalence of anticholinergic side effects concerning the burden on this population. The study is a retrospective chart review of patient charts from the years of 2024 and 2025, analyzing patient characteristics, comorbidities, medication lists, and calculating the anticholinergic burden through the ACB calculator.

The goal of this observational study is to learn about changes in activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults after being discharged from the emergency department (ED) following a fall. The main questions this study aims to answer are: How often do older adults experience a decline in their ability to perform daily activities after being discharged from the ED for a fall? What health or lifestyle factors (such as frailty, medications, physical activity, or fear of falling) are related to this decline? Participants will be 65 years or older, admitted to the ED for a simple fall, and discharged without hospitalization. At the time of their ED visit, participants will be asked questions about their health, medications, activity level, and daily functioning. They will then be contacted online or by phone at 7 days and 30 days after discharge to answer follow-up questions. This study will help identify how common functional decline is after falls in older adults discharged from the ED, and which factors may predict higher risk. These findings could help improve follow-up care and prevention strategies for older patients.

With improved a five-day intensive, low-resistance elastic band exercise program to evaluate its effectiveness in improving total muscle mass, upper and lower extremity muscle strength, self-perceived fear of falling, and depression among hospitalized elderly individuals. This study is a random control trial. Data collection includes elderly patient's total muscle mass, upper and lower extremity muscle strength, self-perceived fear of falling, and depression among hospitalized. The total muscle mass and upper and lower extremity muscle strength will be calculated in kilograms.

Brief Summary: The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the role of nutrition - specifically the administration of protein supplements (single dose and double dose) - in the rehabilitation of stroke patients with low albumin levels in relation to sarcopenia, osteopenia and functional recovery indices. The study will follow a randomized controlled trial design, incorporating clinical observation, analysis of biochemical markers, and assessment of physical and functional parameters. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (1) Group 1, receiving no protein supplementation (control group), (2) Group 2, receiving a single dose of protein supplement and (3) Group 3, receiving a double dose of protein supplement. The intervention will last for at least six weeks or until the biochemical markers of albumin normalize and the patient resumes regular oral intake. Biochemical assessment with be conducted through regular nutritional evaluations including measurement of serum albumin, prealbumin, C - reactive protein, creatinine, blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), urea, electrolytes, urine albumin and additional inflammatory markers. Bone density will be assessed using DEXA, MBSR and hip measurements to determine the potential improvements resulting from the intervention. Muscle mass will be evaluated using whole - body DEXA analysis, while muscle strength and mobility will be assessed through grip strength tests and fine gait assessments. Functional recovery will be evaluated usings standardized tools for activities of daily living (Barthel Index), mental state (Geriatric Depression Scale) and quality of life (SF - 36), as well as mobility and walking tests such as the Timed Up and Go Test and 6 - Minute Walk Test. The collected data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical tools, including comparison models (ANOVA, Mann - Whitney U test) and correlation models (Pearson - Spearman). This research is expected to enhance theoretical knowledge regarding the relationship between nutrition, biochemical markers and rehabilitation outcomes in stroke patients with hypoalbuminemia. More specifically, it aims to explore the underlying mechanisms through which nutrition affects recovery - a field that remains unexplored. Additionally, the anticipated finding may contribute to the development of clinical guidelines and therapeutic approaches for the nutritional management of patients with low albumin levels, promoting personalized nutritional strategies that support effective post - stroke rehabilitation.