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Aerobic and strength training exercise programme for cognitive impairment in people with mild to moderate dementia : the DAPA RCT

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Lamb, S. E. (Sallie E.), Mistry, Dipesh, Alleyne, Sharisse, Atherton, Nicky, Brown, Deborah, Copsey, Bethan, Dosanjh, Sukhdeep, Finnegan, Susanne, Fordham, Beth, Griffiths, Frances, Hennings, Susie, Khan, Iftekhar, Khan, Kamran, Lall, Ranjit, Lyle, Samantha A., Nichols, Vivien P., Petrou, Stavros, Zeh, Peter and Sheehan, Bart (2018) Aerobic and strength training exercise programme for cognitive impairment in people with mild to moderate dementia : the DAPA RCT. Health Technology Assessment, 22 (28). doi:10.3310/hta22280 ISSN 1366-5278.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.3310/hta22280

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Abstract

Background

Approximately 670,000 people in the UK have dementia. Previous literature suggests that physical exercise could slow dementia symptom progression.

Objectives

To estimate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a bespoke exercise programme, in addition to usual care, on the cognitive impairment (primary outcome), function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with mild to moderate dementia (MMD) and carer burden and HRQoL.

Design

Intervention development, systematic review, multicentred, randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a parallel economic evaluation and qualitative study.

Setting

15 English regions.

Participants

People with MMD living in the community.

Intervention

A 4-month moderate- to high-intensity, structured exercise programme designed specifically for people with MMD, with support to continue unsupervised physical activity thereafter. Exercises were individually prescribed and progressed, and participants were supervised in groups. The comparator was usual practice.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog). The secondary outcomes were function [as measured using the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale (BADLS)], generic HRQoL [as measured using the EuroQol-5 Dimensions, three-level version (EQ-5D-3L)], dementia-related QoL [as measured using the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) scale], behavioural symptoms [as measured using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)], falls and fractures, physical fitness (as measured using the 6-minute walk test) and muscle strength. Carer outcomes were HRQoL (Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease) (as measured using the EQ-5D-3L) and carer burden (as measured using the Zarit Burden Interview). The economic evaluation was expressed in terms of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained from a NHS and Personal Social Services perspective. We measured health and social care use with the Client Services Receipt Inventory. Participants were followed up for 12 months.

Results

Between February 2013 and June 2015, 494 participants were randomised with an intentional unequal allocation ratio: 165 to usual care and 329 to the intervention. The mean age of participants was 77 years [standard deviation (SD) 7.9 years], 39% (193/494) were female and the mean baseline ADAS-Cog score was 21.5 (SD 9.0). Participants in the intervention arm achieved high compliance rates, with 65% (214/329) attending between 75% and 100% of sessions. Outcome data were obtained for 85% (418/494) of participants at 12 months, at which point a small, statistically significant negative treatment effect was found in the primary outcome, ADAS-Cog (patient reported), with a mean difference of –1.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) –2.62 to –0.17]. There were no treatment effects for any of the other secondary outcome measures for participants or carers: for the BADLS there was a mean difference of –0.6 (95% CI –2.05 to 0.78), for the EQ-5D-3L a mean difference of –0.002 (95% CI –0.04 to 0.04), for the QoL-AD scale a mean difference of 0.7 (95% CI –0.21 to 1.65) and for the NPI a mean difference of –2.1 (95% CI –4.83 to 0.65). Four serious adverse events were reported. The exercise intervention was dominated in health economic terms.

Limitations

In the absence of definitive guidance and rationale, we used a mixed exercise programme. Neither intervention providers nor participants could be masked to treatment allocation.

Conclusions

This is a large well-conducted RCT, with good compliance to exercise and research procedures. A structured exercise programme did not produce any clinically meaningful benefit in function or HRQoL in people with dementia or on carer burden.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
SWORD Depositor: Library Publications Router
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Dementia -- Treatment, Mild cognitive impairment -- Treatment, Aerobic exercises -- Health aspects, Physical fitness -- Health aspects
Journal or Publication Title: Health Technology Assessment
Publisher: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
ISSN: 1366-5278
Official Date: 30 May 2018
Dates:
DateEvent
30 May 2018Published
25 April 2018Accepted
Volume: 22
Number: 28
Number of Pages: 202
DOI: 10.3310/hta22280
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit: 26 June 2018
Date of first compliant Open Access: 26 June 2018
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
UNSPECIFIED[NIHR] National Institute for Health Researchhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272

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