Sarcopenia is a potentially modifiable risk factor for falls and fractures in older adults, but the strength of the association between sarcopenia, falls, and fractures is unclear. This study aims to systematically assess the literature and perform a meta‐analysis of the association between sarcopenia with falls and fractures among older adults. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL from inception to May 2018. Inclusion criteria were the following: published in English, mean/median age ≥ 65 years, sarcopenia diagnosis (based on definitions used by the original studies' authors), falls and/or fractures outcomes, and any study population. Pooled analyses were conducted of the associations of sarcopenia with falls and fractures, expressed in odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed by study design, population, sex, sarcopenia definition, continent, and study quality. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistics. The search identified 2771 studies. Thirty‐six studies (52 838 individuals, 48.8% females, and mean age of the study populations ranging from 65.0 to 86.7 years) were included in the systematic review. Four studies reported on both falls and fractures. Ten out of 22 studies reported a significantly higher risk of falls in sarcopenic compared with non‐sarcopenic individuals; 11 out of 19 studies showed a significant positive association with fractures. Thirty‐three studies (45 926 individuals) were included in the meta‐analysis. Sarcopenic individuals had a significant higher risk of falls (cross‐sectional studies: OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.37–1.86, P < 0.001, I 2 = 34%; prospective studies: OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.33–2.68, P < 0.001, I 2 = 37%) and fractures (cross‐sectional studies: OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.30–2.62, P = 0.001, I 2 = 91%; prospective studies: OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.44–2.03, P = 0.011, I 2 = 0%) compared with non‐sarcopenic individuals. This was independent of study design, population, sex, sarcopenia definition, continent, and study quality. The positive association between sarcopenia with falls and fractures in older adults strengthens the need to invest in sarcopenia prevention and interventions to evaluate its effect on falls and fractures.

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ObjectiveTo determine if a programme of progressive resistance exercise, mobilisation and orientation, in addition to usual care, was superior to usual care alone in the prevention of incident delirium in older hospitalised patients.DesignA randomised controlled trial.SettingThe study was performed at a secondary referral hospital in Melbourne, Australia between May 2005 and December 2007.Participants648 consecutive medical inpatients aged 65 years or older who had been in hospital for less than 48 h and who did not have delirium.InterventionParticipants were randomly allocated to a twice-daily programme of progressive resistance exercise tailored to individual ability, mobilisation and orientation in addition to usual care or to usual care alone.MeasurementsDelirium was measured using the Confusion Assessment Method at baseline and every 48 h until discharge. Secondary outcome measures were severity and duration of delirium, discharge destination and length of stay.ResultsDelirium occurred in 4.9% (95% CI 2.3% to 7.3%) of the intervention group (15/305) and in 5.9% (20/339; 95% CI 3.8% to 9.2%) of the group receiving usual care. No difference was observed between groups (χ2; p=0.5). The intervention had no effect on delirium duration, severity, discharge destination or length of stay.ConclusionA programme of progressive resistance exercise and orientation was not effective in reducing incident delirium in hospitalised elderly patients.

Additional physiotherapy intervention during hospitalisation did not significantly improve hospital or patient outcomes.

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