Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial to Analyze the Efficacy of a Spanish Healthcare ministRy Based In InTervention to Reduce Frailty Status in Prefrail Older Adults (FRAILMERIT)

Objectives: The main objective is to analyze the efficacy of an intervention based on the algorithm proposed by the Spanish Healtcare Ministry (see figure in annex 1) at Primary Care level to reduce Frailty status or Physical Function in community-dwelling older adults. Secondary objectives are: 1. To analyze if the intervention is cost-effective; 2. To analyze if the intervention reduces hospitalizations and emergency department visits, incident disability, falls, institutionalization, mortality, Primary Care visits and Drug use, and improves quality of life.

Methodology: Multicentric Randomized Clinical Trial in 273 Prefrail or Frail or with a gait speed lower that 0.8 m/s community-dwelling women and men with an age equal or greater to 70 years, attended in selected Primary Care centers of Spain (Albacete, Hellín, Barcelona, Madrid, La Carlota, and Tacoronte). Randomization will be made by clusters, being every cluster a different Primary Care center in order to avoid contamination. Randomization on a 1:1 relationship between groups. The main outcome variable will be Frailty status or Physical function change (main composite outcome) at 8-month follow-up measured with the Frailty Phenotype and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) respectively. All instrumentation will follow the guidelines of the Spanish Healthcare Ministry algorithm for frailty updated 2022. Intervention will consist on a groupal multicomponent physical exercise program, a nutritional intervention program and a training in Frailty to Primary Care centers. The intervention will be delivered by trained experts in groups of 6 participants, and will be based on the recommendations of the Spanish Healthcare Ministry document, updated in 2022.