Use of standardized brief geriatric evaluation compared with routine care in general practice for preventing functional decline: a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial

Yolanda Mueller, Joëlle Schwarz, Stéfanie Monod, Isabella Locatelli, Nicolas Senn, Yolanda Mueller, Joëlle Schwarz, Stéfanie Monod, Isabella Locatelli, Nicolas Senn

Abstract

Background: Although assessment of geriatric syndromes is increasingly encouraged in older adults, little evidence exists to support its systematic use by general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study was to determine whether a systematic geriatric evaluation performed by GPs can prevent functional decline.

Methods: We conducted a controlled, open-label, pragmatic cluster-randomized trial in 42 general practices in Switzerland. Participating GPs were expected to enrol an average of 10 community-dwelling adults (aged ≥ 75 yr) who understood French, and had visited their GP at least twice in the previous year. The intervention consisted of yearly assessment by the GP of 8 geriatric syndromes with an associated tailored management plan according to assessment results, compared with routine care. Our primary outcomes were the proportion of patients who lost at least 1 instrumental activity of daily living (ADL) and the proportion who lost at least 1 basic ADL, over 2 years. Our secondary outcomes were quality-of-life scores, measured using the older adult module of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, and health care use.

Results: Forty-two GPs recruited 429 participants (63% women) with a mean age of 82.5 years (standard deviation 4.8 yr) at time of recruitment. Of these, we randomly assigned 217 participants to the intervention and 212 to the control arm. The proportion of patients who lost at least 1 instrumental ADL in the intervention and control arms during the course of the study was 43.6% and 47.6%, respectively (risk difference -4.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -14.9% to 6.7%, p = 0.5). The proportion of patients who lost at least 1 basic ADL was 12.4% in the intervention arm and 16.9% in the control arm (risk difference -5.1%, 95% CI -14.3% to 4.1%, p = 0.3).

Interpretation: A yearly geriatric evaluation with an associated management plan, conducted systematically in GP practices, does not significantly lessen functional decline among community-dwelling, older adult patients, compared with routine care.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02618291.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

© 2021 CMA Joule Inc. or its licensors.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Conceptual framework of the Active Geriatric Evaluation (AGE) tool. Note: ADL = activity of daily living. Adapted from Sen and Monod (licensed under CC BY 4.0).
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Study flowchart. Note: ADL = activity of daily living, GP = general practitioner, var = variance.

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Source: PubMed

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