| Methods |
Method of randomisation: not stated
Assessor blinding: not reported
Intention to treat: carried out
Lost to follow‐up: intervention 1 dropped out due to lack of interest, 1 lost to follow‐up (excluding death); control 1 dropped out due to lack of interest, 3 lost to follow‐up (excluding death)
Timing of interventions: once per day in the evening for 10 weeks, administered in blinded containers |
| Participants |
Location: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged, Boston
50 patients no exercise, 50 patients with exercise
Inclusion criteria: residents in long‐term care, over 70y, ability to walk 6 metres unaided
Exclusion criteria: severe cognitive impairment, rapidly progressive terminal illness, acute illness, unstable chronic illness, myocardial infarction or fracture within 6 months, IDDM, weight loss diet, undergoing resistance training, musculoskeletal cardiovascular abnormality, BMI over 32
Sex: 31 female, 19 male (no exercise), 32 female, 18 male (exercise)
Age: 86/89 (no exercise)
Health Status: 'healthy' residents of long term care, undernourished analysed separately |
| Interventions |
a: usual diet plus Exceed (Ross laboratories) 240 ml: 360 kcal, 60% carbohydrate, 23% fat, 17% protein
b: usual diet plus Crystal light (4 kcal)
Allocated: no exercise 24/26, exercise 25/25
Assessed: unclear |
| Outcomes |
Main outcomes:
Mortality
Functional status ‐ stair climbing, physical activity, gait
Side effects of treatment ‐ diarrhoea
Additional outcomes:
Measures of nutritional status ‐ weight change, BMI, skinfold thickness, change in lean body mass
Measures of dietary intake ‐ energy and protein intake |
| Notes |
Data from non exercise group only, request for further details regarding numbers of side effects, weight denominators and intake denominators for all groups, blinding of outcome assessors sent 18/9/01 |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Unclear risk |
B ‐ Unclear |
