Effects of a 4-week Multicomponent Exercise (Vivifrail) on Predicted Maximum Oxygen Consumption and Fatigue Levels in the Elderly with Frailty Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Frailty syndrome (FS) impairs cardiorespiratory fitness, physical capacity, and disability in the elderly population. Vivifrail, a multicomponent exercise, has shown significant benefits for FS management, but research in the Asian population is still limited. This study aims to see how 4-week Vivifrail program affects predicted maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and fatigue levels in the elderly with FS. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 47 participants with FS living in a nursing home in Surabaya, Indonesia. The participants were randomly assigned to either the Vivifrail group (VG) and the control group (CG). The VG followed the 5 days a week Vivifrail program combined with 15 min daily group-based conventional exercise for 4 weeks. The CG was only given the conventional exercise. Six-minute walking test and the Indonesian version of the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-I) were measured to assess VO2max dan and fatigue levels before and after the 4-week intervention. Results: After 4 weeks of intervention, a significant increase in VO2max and decrease in FSS-I were found in the VG (P = 0.021 and P = 0.002, respectively), whereas no significant changes in VO2max or FSS-I were found in the CG (P = 0.170 and P = 0.052). However, there was no statistically significant difference in VO2max between groups (P = 0.716), but the decline of FSS-I between groups was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The addition of Vivifrail exercise for 4 weeks can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and decrease fatigue levels. This supports the routine use of Vivifrail for Indonesian elderly with FS who live in nursing homes.

Keywords

• exercise; fatigue; frailty; oxygen consumption