BMC Geriatrics (Feb 2020)

Motor, cognitive and mobility deficits in 1000 geriatric patients: protocol of a quantitative observational study before and after routine clinical geriatric treatment – the ComOn-study

  • Johanna Geritz,
  • Sara Maetzold,
  • Maren Steffen,
  • Andrea Pilotto,
  • Marta F. Corrà,
  • Mariana Moscovich,
  • Maria C. Rizzetti,
  • Barbara Borroni,
  • Alessandro Padovani,
  • Annekathrin Alpes,
  • Corinna Bang,
  • Igor Barcellos,
  • Ralf Baron,
  • Thorsten Bartsch,
  • Jos S. Becktepe,
  • Daniela Berg,
  • Lu M. Bergeest,
  • Philipp Bergmann,
  • Raquel Bouça-Machado,
  • Michael Drey,
  • Morad Elshehabi,
  • Susan Farahmandi,
  • Joaquim J. Ferreira,
  • Andre Franke,
  • Anja Friederich,
  • Corinna Geisler,
  • Philipp Hüllemann,
  • Janne Gierthmühlen,
  • Oliver Granert,
  • Sebastian Heinzel,
  • Maren K. Heller,
  • Markus A. Hobert,
  • Marc Hofmann,
  • Björn Jemlich,
  • Laura Kerkmann,
  • Stephanie Knüpfer,
  • Katharina Krause,
  • Maximilian Kress,
  • Sonja Krupp,
  • Jennifer Kudelka,
  • Gregor Kuhlenbäumer,
  • Roland Kurth,
  • Frank Leypoldt,
  • Corina Maetzler,
  • Luis F. Maia,
  • Andreas Moewius,
  • Patricia Neumann,
  • Katharina Niemann,
  • Christian T. Ortlieb,
  • Steffen Paschen,
  • Minh H. Pham,
  • Thomas Puehler,
  • Franziska Radloff,
  • Christian Riedel,
  • Marten Rogalski,
  • Simone Sablowsky,
  • Elena M. Schanz,
  • Linda Schebesta,
  • Andreas Schicketmüller,
  • Simone Studt,
  • Martina Thieves,
  • Lars Tönges,
  • Sebastian Ullrich,
  • Peter P. Urban,
  • Nuno Vila-Chã,
  • Anna Wiegard,
  • Elke Warmerdam,
  • Tobias Warnecke,
  • Michael Weiss,
  • Julius Welzel,
  • Clint Hansen,
  • Walter Maetzler

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-1445-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background Motor and cognitive deficits and consequently mobility problems are common in geriatric patients. The currently available methods for diagnosis and for the evaluation of treatment in this vulnerable cohort are limited. The aims of the ComOn (COgnitive and Motor interactions in the Older populatioN) study are (i) to define quantitative markers with clinical relevance for motor and cognitive deficits, (ii) to investigate the interaction between both motor and cognitive deficits and (iii) to assess health status as well as treatment outcome of 1000 geriatric inpatients in hospitals of Kiel (Germany), Brescia (Italy), Porto (Portugal), Curitiba (Brazil) and Bochum (Germany). Methods This is a prospective, explorative observational multi-center study. In addition to the comprehensive geriatric assessment, quantitative measures of reduced mobility and motor and cognitive deficits are performed before and after a two week’s inpatient stay. Components of the assessment are mobile technology-based assessments of gait, balance and transfer performance, neuropsychological tests, frailty, sarcopenia, autonomic dysfunction and sensation, and questionnaires to assess behavioral deficits, activities of daily living, quality of life, fear of falling and dysphagia. Structural MRI and an unsupervised 24/7 home assessment of mobility are performed in a subgroup of participants. The study will also investigate the minimal clinically relevant change of the investigated parameters. Discussion This study will help form a better understanding of symptoms and their complex interactions and treatment effects in a large geriatric cohort.

Keywords