Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN Older People: Multi-componenT Treatment Strategies (SPRINTT)

As the life expectancy in European countries continues to increase, the maintenance of physical independence in older persons has become a major public health priority. The ability to ambulate without assistance is crucial for independent living and it is often the first ability to be lost in the process leading to disability. Older people who have impaired walking function need more assistance and are more likely to be placed in nursing homes, have a higher risk of morbidity, mortality and hospitalisation, and experience a reduced quality of life. The ultimate goals of the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN older people: multicomponenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) project are to offer efficient treatment options, based on a multicomponent intervention including physical activity, nutrition and information and communications technology, to physically frail, sarcopenic older persons and to improve their quality of life. The result will directly contribute to the long-term sustainability and efficiency of health- and social-care systems. The conceptualisation of physical frailty and sarcopenia (PF&S) as proposed in SPRINTT will promote significant advancements over the traditional approaches by enabling the precise operationalisation of the condition, a clear identification of the affected population and the rapid translation of findings to the clinical arena.