Journal of Community Health Nursing · Dec 1, 2025

The Exercise-Cognition Dual Intervention Model for Frailty Syndrome in Elderly Patients with Comorbidities: A Retrospective Case-Control Study Based on Electronic Medical Records

By Zhou S, Lv A, Lou L et al.

PURPOSE: We aimed to explore the relationship between the exercise-cognitive dual intervention model and the improvement of frailty syndrome in elderly patients with comorbidities by analyzing their clinical data. DESIGN: This study was a retrospective observational study. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 100 frail patients (Fried Frailty Assessment Scale score ≥3) who received either routine interventions (control group, n = 50) or a combined exercise-cognitive intervention (observation, group n = 50). Outcomes included Fried frailty scores at 1- and 3-month follow-ups, with quality of life assessed using SF-36 prior to and following the intervention. Physical function was measured by grip strength, gait speed, Berg Balance Scale, Morse Fall Scale, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and cognitive performance (MoCA) was evaluated prior to and following the intervention to compare treatment effects. FINDINGS: There were no notable differences in the general characteristics between the two groups. After a three-month intervention, the frailty score in the observation group was lower relative to the control group. Moreover, the observation group showed better outcomes in terms of quality of life, grip strength, and walking speed. Additionally, the observation group outperformed the control group in assessments of balance and cognitive function, including the Berg, Morse, SPPB, and MoCA scores. CONCLUSION: The exercise-cognition dual intervention model can ameliorate frailty, enhance quality of life, and improve cognitive function and balance ability in elderly patients with multimorbidity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study underscores the clinical value of exercise-cognition dual interventions in improving frailty, cognition, and physical function in elderly patients with multimorbidity, offering a practical, non-pharmacological strategy to enhance quality of life and reduce fall risk.

doi.org/10.1080/07370016.2025.2591653PubMed 41324397Interventions