Designing a Multicomponent Intervention for Improving Frailty. A Pilot Study in the Basque Country

The numbers of pre-selected participants who met the inclusion criteria and eventually agreed to participate, as well as the drop-outs and their reasons were registered.

The time required to recruit the sample needed for the study was recorded.

The professionals recorded the evaluation time each participant required

Professionals who performed the baseline and follow-up assessments completed a questionnaire on the difficulty and adequacy of the process

Number of attended sessions was registered

Satisfaction was measured with an anonymous ad-hoc questionnaire, containing a total of 25 questions: The physical exercise and the nutritional components were evaluated with six questions each; general health improvements obtained during the intervention with 11; two last questions asked about the intention to keep exercising after the intervention ended and whether they would recommend this program to others.

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to assess functional capacity. TUG is a simple functional assessment used to evaluate mobility, balance, and fall risk. Participants are timed while standing up from a chair, walking three meters, turning, returning, and sitting down. Shorter times (in seconds) indicate better functional mobility, while longer times suggest impaired performance.

Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). It is a standardized instrument used to assess physical activity performed during the previous seven days, including walking, moderate activity, vigorous activity, and sedentary behavior. The questionnaire applies Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) values to estimate weekly energy expenditure and classify participants into low, moderate, or high physical activity levels. The unit of measurement is MET.

Handgrip strength measured with a dynamometer. Three dominant hand consecutive measurement were taken per participant. The finally considered values per follow-up were the means of those three. The unit of measurement is kg.

The Predimed questionnaire is a validated 14-item tool used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet, by asking about key dietary habits. Its score oscillates between 0-14 points, with higher values indicating greater adherence.

The 6-item Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) was applied to evaluate the nutritional status of patients. The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is an 18-item validated tool used to evaluate nutritional status in older adults. The unit of measurement is points.

Complete blood count, biochemistry (glucose, urea, creatinine, thyroid hormones, vitamins B12 and D, ions, iron profile), albumin, and C-reactive protein were collected.

Change in the number of pharmacological treatments.

The Euroqol Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) was used for assessing self-reported quality of life. It is a vertical 0-100 line measuring overall health "today", with 100 being the best possible health.

The Abbreviated Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-Short Form) was performed to assess the global cognitive function of the participants. It evaluates orientation, memory, attention, and language in 21 items, and provides a rapid estimate of cognitive status, with lower scores indicating greater impairment.

Anxiety and depression was determined by the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale. A brief screening instrument used to identify symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults. It consists of two subscales with nine items each, and the total scores help detect individuals at risk of clinically relevant emotional distress. Lower values indicate less anxiety and depression.

Lawton instrumental activities of daily living based on 8 items, with higher values indicating more independence.

The Lubben Social Networks Scale is a brief, standardised tool used to assess social connectedness in older people. It measures the number and frequency of contacts within family and friends and the perception on the availability of support. The family and friends sub-scales account for a maximum of 15 points each, with the total scale score ranging from 0 to 30 points. Higher values indicate more social ties.