Authors (including presenting author) :
CHU KW[1], KWOK Y[1], CHEUNG YH[1], YUEN WT[1], CHAN MC[1], TONG YC[1], LAI LY[1], YAU WL [1], CHUNG HY[2], CHAN WC[2],YU WS[3], TSOI YK[1]
Affiliation :
[1[ Department of Medicine, Haven of Hope Hospital [2] Physiotherapy Department, Haven of Hope Hospital, [3]Dietitic Department, Haven of Hope Hospital
Introduction :
Orthopedic ward 3L of HHH mainly cares for geriatric patients with hip fractures, who are particularly vulnerable to sarcopenia. Early identification and provision of targeted care can mitigate the risk of falls and fractures, and improve their quality of life. Therefore, the “Sarco-Tackle” programme, has been initiated in March 2024. This initiative integrates muscle-strengthening activities and lifestyle modification strategies during inpatient stays and emphasizes the importance of sustaining these practices after discharge through patient empowerment.
Objectives :
1) To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia 2) To enhance muscle strength in targeted patients 3) To empower patients to manage sarcopenia through lifestyle modifications.
Methodology :
The “Sarco-Tackle” programme consisted of four main components. Nurses carried out video taped physiotherapist-designed exercises four times a week, prescribed and educated on high-quality protein and calcium intake, arranged visit to Rehabilitation Garden weekly for sunlight exposure, introduced lifestyle modification strategies. Follow-up calls were made at 4 and 12 weeks post-discharge for evaluation. A quasi-experimental study was adopted to evaluate the programme's effectiveness. Patients admitted from December 2023 to February 2024 were taken as a comparison group receiving standard care, while those admitted from March 2024 onward will be selected as the intervention group receiving additional support. The primary outcomes were handgrip strength, measured at admission and discharge. Secondary outcomes were patient’s lifestyle modification compliance and satisfaction scores.
Result & Outcome :
Overall sarcopenia prevalence rate was about 83.6%. There were 36 patients in the comparison group, and 68 patients in the intervention group. The mean change in handgrip strength was 0.28 Kg (± 2.94 kg,p = 0.57) for the comparison group and 2.54Kg ( ± 2.6 kg, p<0.01) for the intervention group. 33 intervention group patients(48.5%) were contacted for follow-up. Approximately 23(70%) continued upper limb exercises at home, and 30 (90%) maintained a high-quality protein diet and regular sunlight exposure. All respondents (100%) reported satisfaction with the programme and expressed a desire to incorporate these interventions into their daily routines to combat sarcopenia. No fall events were reported among respondents. The ”Sarco-Tackle” Programme is effective in improving patients’ power grip, compliance for home exercise, dietetic intake and healthy life style for the prevention of sarcopenia.
