Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25709416›Full record

SynthesisClinical interventions in aging2015

Effectiveness of exercise programs to reduce falls in older people with dementia living in the community: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Elissa Burton, Vinicius Cavalheri, Richard Adams, Colleen Oakley Browne, Petra Bovery-Spencer, Audra M Fenton, Bruce W Campbell, Keith D Hill

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical interventions in aging, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 73 papers, 15 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
73citing papers in PubMed, 15 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

73 citing papers in PubMed, 15 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  3. A Meta-Analysis of Fall Risk in Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease.Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · 2024
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  14. Dysmobility syndrome: current perspectives.Clinical interventions in aging · 2017
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13 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Elissa BurtonSchool of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia ; Research Department, Silver Chain, Perth, WA, Australia.
Vinicius CavalheriSchool of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
Richard AdamsCommunity Services, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Warragul, VIC, Australia.
Colleen Oakley BrowneFalls Prevention for People Living with Dementia Project, Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnership, Moe, VIC, Australia;
Petra Bovery-SpencerFalls Prevention for People Living with Dementia Project, Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnership, Moe, VIC, Australia;
Audra M FentonCommunity Services, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Warragul, VIC, Australia.
Bruce W CampbellAllied Health, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralgon, VIC, Australia.
Keith D HillSchool of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia ; Preventive and Public Health Division, National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise programs to reduce falls in older people with dementia who are living in the community.

methodPeer-reviewed articles (randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and quasi-experimental trials) published in English between January 2000 and February 2014, retrieved from six electronic databases - Medline (ProQuest), CINAHL, PubMed, PsycInfo, EMBASE and Scopus - according to predefined inclusion criteria were included. Where possible, results were pooled and meta-analysis was conducted.

resultsFour articles (three RCT and one single-group pre- and post-test pilot study) were included. The study quality of the three RCTs was high; however, measurement outcomes, interventions, and follow-up time periods differed across studies. On completion of the intervention period, the mean number of falls was lower in the exercise group compared to the control group (mean difference [MD] [95% confidence interval {CI}] =-1.06 [-1.67 to -0.46] falls). Importantly, the exercise intervention reduced the risk of being a faller by 32% (risk ratio [95% CI] =0.68 [0.55-0.85]). Only two other outcomes were reported in two or more of the studies (step test and physiological profile assessment). No between-group differences were observed in the results of the step test (number of steps) (MD [95% CI] =0.51 [-1.77 to 2.78]) or the physiological profile assessment (MD [95% CI] =-0.10 [-0.62 to 0.42]).

conclusionFindings from this review suggest that an exercise program may potentially assist in preventing falls of older people with dementia living in the community. However, further research is needed with studies using larger sample sizes, standardized measurement outcomes, and longer follow-up periods, to inform evidence-based recommendations.

Indexed as

ExerciseAccidental FallsAccidents, HomeAgedDementiaHumansMiddle AgedPatient CompliancePilot Projectscognitive impairmentcommunity dwellingfallersolder peoplephysical activity

Identifiers

PMID25709416
PMCPMC4330004

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.