A large clinical trial published in JAMA Surgery shows that prehabilitation (prehab) can reduce disability after surgery in older adults with frailty, provided they are able to fully take part in the prehab programme.
The trial, led by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, enrolled 847 older adults living with frailty from 13 surgical centres across Canada. Participants who completed at least 75% of the prehab exercises had significantly lower levels of disability after surgery, although the overall results showed no difference in surgery-related complications or disability.
“This study shows that older adults with frailty who have enough time before surgery, along with the internal and external support to fully engage in a prehab program, are likely to experience a better recovery and less disability after surgery,” says Dr Daniel McIsaac, Anaesthesiologist and senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and Clinical Research Chair in Perioperative Innovation at the University of Ottawa. “The study also shows that we need to continue to optimise and integrate prehab programmes, so that everyone can fully participate and ultimately benefit.”