Optimizing Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Disability Through Multidomain Interventions (OPTIMAge-IT)

May 22, 2026 updated by: University of Milano Bicocca

Optimizing Prevention of Hospital-acquired Disability Through Integrated Multidomain Interventions: the Age-IT Project

The aim of this study is to assess whether a multidomain, multidisciplinary intervention (MDI), enhanced by technological solutions, effectively improves the functional and cognitive status of older hospitalized patients at risk of disability or worsening frailty. Additionally, the study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering these interventions remotely via technology after hospital discharge.

Participants will:

  • Receive an MDI during their hospital stay and continue with remote at-home support for 3 months, or receive usual care.
  • Attend outpatient clinics for follow-up assessment at 3 and 6 months.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The "Optimizing Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Disability Through Integrated Multidomain Interventions (OPTIMAge-IT)" study will evaluate impact of a MDI multidisciplinary approach, enhanced by technological solutions, on the functional and cognitive status of older hospitalized patients at risk of disability or worsening frailty.

Additionally, the study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering MDIs remotely via technology after hospital discharge. Using a parallel cluster-randomized design, approximately 300 patients will be recruited from eight Acute Geriatric Units (AGUs) located in eight acute hospitals evenly distributed across Northern, Central, and Southern Italy.

Eligible patients will be aged 70 years or older, with mild to moderate frailty, capable of ambulation with or without assistance and able to communicate and collaborate with the research team. Participants will use smart technologies, such as smartwatches, and tablets, for guided physical activity and remote monitoring. A multidisciplinary team -including a geriatrician, a nurse, a physiotherapist, a clinical nutrition expert, a neuropsychologist and a digital coach- will assist patients in the intervention group, supervising the MDI approach during hospitalization and at the 3-month follow-up. Blood-based biomarkers and fecal samples for gut microbiome analysis will be collected for patients in the intervention group, to support frailty stratification at baseline and help define the trajectories of functional and cognitive changes from baseline to follow-up assessments.

After discharge, patients in the intervention group will continue MDI at home for 12 weeks, with follow-up visits at 3 and 6 months. The control group will receive a follow-up visit at 6 months.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

288

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Giuseppe Bellelli, MD

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • Lumbardy
      • Monza, Lumbardy, Italy, 20900
        • Recruiting
        • Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age >70 years;
  • Mild to moderate frailty, defined by a panel of tools agreed upon by the group of researchers involved in the study (Primary Care Frailty Index [PC-FI] between 0.07 and 0.21, Clinical Frailty Scale [CFS] 4-6);
  • Ability to walk with or without assistance
  • Ability to communicate and cooperate with the research team;
  • Ability to sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Expected hospital stay duration <3 days;
  • Estimated prognosis quoad vitam <12 months;
  • Persistent clinical instability, indicated by a NEWS2 score >5 (assessed within 48 hours of admission) and/or the presence of delirium (4AT >4);
  • History of schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis;
  • Severe sensory deficits (visual and auditory);
  • Presence of a nasogastric tube or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG);
  • Severe cardiac conduction disorder (e.g., third-degree atrioventricular block), uncontrolled arrhythmia, new Q wave in the past six months, or ST segment depression (>3 mm) on the electrocardiogram;
  • Terminal stage oncological or organic disease (e.g., Child-Pugh C cirrhosis, stage V renal disease, GOLD stage D chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, end-stage heart failure);
  • Residence in a nursing home before hospital admission;
  • Presence of dissected aortic aneurysm, severe aortic stenosis, acute endocarditis/pericarditis, acute thromboembolism, uncontrolled hypertension (>180/100 mmHg) or postural hypotension, uncontrolled hypoglycemia, recent fracture within the last month, or any other medical condition that hinders the execution of physical activity according to clinical judgment;
  • Any condition that prevents safe participation in the intervention and/or cooperation with the study;
  • Concurrent participation in other clinical studies;
  • Clinical conditions or situations significantly different from the condition under study, which in the investigator's opinion could interfere with the study or prevent optimal participation;
  • Participants refusal to participate in the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group

The interventions include:

  • Physical Exercise: Tailored sessions with the VIVIFRAIL exercise protocol, monitored with accelerometers, and supported by a physical activity kit.
  • Nutrition: Mediterranean diet with education on nutrient balance and avoiding ultra-processed foods.
  • Health & Sleep: Promotion of healthy habits, fall prevention, sleep hygiene, and targeted sleep disorder treatments.
  • Polypharmacotherapy: Review and adjustment of medications as needed.
  • Cognition: Cognitive rehabilitation using technology and educational videos.
  • Environment: Adjustments to create an "older-friendly" Acute Unit, including modified routines and extended visiting hours.
Multidomain Interventions The intervention group will receive a personalized MDI approach from a multidisciplinary team, including a digital coach, physiotherapist, clinical nutrition expert, neuropsychologist, geriatrician, and nurse. This approach will encompass physical activity program, nutritional interventions, cognitive training and stimulation, medication reconciliation, coaching on the use of technological supports, and group activities. Environmental modifications at home will also be proposed
No Intervention: Control Group
Centers randomized to the control group will follow usual care protocols. However, all participants in this group will receive standardized leaflets at discharge, providing physical, nutritional, and behavioral advice.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assess the effect of the MDI on motor function at discharge from the AGU
Time Frame: Baseline, Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days)
Effect of the intervention in terms of motor function, assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB, from 0 to 12)
Baseline, Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluate the feasibility of home-based MDI with technological support
Time Frame: 3 months, and 6 months
Feasibility of home-based MDI with technological support, evaluated using Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs), questionnaires measuring the patients' perceptions of their experience whilst receiving care
3 months, and 6 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on readmissions at 6 months follow-up.
Time Frame: 6 months
Effect of the MDI in reducing hospital readmissions at 6 months
6 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on readmissions at 3 months follow-up.
Time Frame: 3 months
Effect of the MDI in reducing hospital readmissions at 3 months
3 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on quality of life at follow-up.
Time Frame: 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI on participants' quality of life at follow-up, evaluated using the EuroQol EQ-5D 5L, a descriptive system comprising five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, discomfort, and anxiety/depression), each dimension with five response levels (no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, unable to/extreme problems).
3 months, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on in-hospital mortality
Time Frame: From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on in-hospital mortality
From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on mortality at follow-up.
Time Frame: 3 months, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on mortality at follow-up.
3 months, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on dietary intake and nutritional status at follow-up.
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI in improving dietary intake and nutritional status at follow-up, assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Scale (MDScale, that includes nine components) and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF, 0-14)
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on changes in frailty levels at follow-up.
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI in reducing frailty at follow-up, assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS, 0-9) and Primary Care Frailty Index (PC-FI)
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on fall events
Time Frame: Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI in reducing the incidence of falls during hospitalization and at home, evaluated through the number of falls and the Tinetti Scale (0-28) occurred within the study period
Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on in-hospital complications
Time Frame: Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI in reducing the incidence of in-hospital complications as sepsis, urinary infections, blood infections, and pressure ulcers.
Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on sleep quality
Time Frame: Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI on sleep quality during hospitalization and at home, assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The questionnaire consists of a combination of Likert-type and open-ended questions (which can later be converted into scaled scores using appropriate guidelines).
Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on the incidence of delirium during hospitalization
Time Frame: From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days
Effect of the MDI in reducing incident delirium during hospitalization, diagnosed according to international guidelines (DSM V) and assessed using the Modified Richmond Agitation Screening Scale (m-RASS, scoring from -5 to +4), 4AT (scoring, from 0 to 12), and Delirium Rating Scale (DRS-revised, 13 items, each item is rated on a scale of 0- 2/3)
From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days
Assess the effect of the MDI on cognitive performance at follow-up.
Time Frame: Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI on cognitive performance (assessed using the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), Addenbrooke Cognitive Examination - Revised (ACE-R), Trail Making Test (TMT) parts A and B)
Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on functional performance at follow-up
Time Frame: Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Assessed using Basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL 0-6), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL 0-8), Barthel Index at follow-up (0-100)
Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on motor performance at follow-up.
Time Frame: Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Assessed using SPPB (0-12), hand grip strength (Kg)
Baseline, From Admission Through Discharge, an Average of 10 days, 3 months, 6 months
Assess the acceptability of technological solutions during hospitalization and at follow-up.
Time Frame: Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days), 3 months, and 6 months
Acceptability of technological solutions through the administration of specific questionnaires
Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days), 3 months, and 6 months
Evaluate the cost impact of the MDI on the healthcare system.
Time Frame: Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days), 3 months, and 6 months
Costs of the MDI on the healthcare system, evaluated through the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio
Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days), 3 months, and 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on the length of hospital stay.
Time Frame: Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days)
Effect of the MDI in reducing the length of hospital stay
Discharge (after an average hospital stay of 10 days)
Evaluate the participant adherence to the protocol
Time Frame: 6 months
Evaluate the participant adherence to the protocol assessing the number of drop-out and overall retention rates
6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assess the impact of the MDI on cardiovascular risk factors.
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Impact of MDI on lifestyle and inactivity, blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol level, and blood glucose.
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on participants&amp;#39; social relationships.
Time Frame: 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI on improving social relationships, assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale (12 items scale)
3 months, 6 months
Evaluate the impact of fortified food consumption on microbiota composition and bowel alterations in a subgroup of patients not undergoing antibiotic therapy (ancillary study).
Time Frame: Baseline, Through Discharge an Average of 10 days
Evaluation of the impact of fortified food consumption on faecal analysis in a subgroup of patients not undergoing antibiotic therapy
Baseline, Through Discharge an Average of 10 days
Assess participants access to (and frequency of use of) technological resources.
Time Frame: Through Discharge an Average of 10 days, 3 months
Number of app accesses.
Through Discharge an Average of 10 days, 3 months
Assess the effect of the MDI on mood of participants
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Effect of the MDI on mood, assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS, 0-30)
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on the Free Triiodothyronine/Free Thyroxine (FT3/FT4) concentration in the MDI group compared to controls
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline
Effect of the MDI on partipants according to Serum Amyloid Beta (Aβ) concentration categories
Baseline
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline
Effect of the MDI on partipants according to their Serum Phosphorylated Tau at Threonine 181 (p-tau181), p-tau217, p-tau231 concentrations
Baseline
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, measured in mg/L) concentration of the MDI group compared to controls
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, measured in mm/h) of the MDI group compared to controls
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on interleukin 6 (IL-6, measured in pg/mL) concentration of the MDI group compared to controls
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on the Neurofilament Light Chain (NF-L, measured in pg/mL) concentration in the MDI group compared to controls
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on the Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (s-RAGE, measured in ng/mL) concentration in the MDI group compared to controls
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on the Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 concentration (FGF-1, measured in pg/mL) in the MDI group compared to controls
Baseline, 6 months
Evaluate the effect of the MDI on biomarkers of aging
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months
Changes on the Growth Differentiation Factor 15 concentration (GDF-15, measured in pg/mL), in the MDI group compared to controls.
Baseline, 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Giuseppe Bellelli, MD, Università di Milano-Bicocca
  • Study Chair: Giuseppe Bellelli, MD, Università di Milano-Bicocca

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 20, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

September 24, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 22, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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