The WE-RISE TM Multidomain Intervention: A feasibility study for the potential reversal of cognitive frailty in Malaysian older persons from lower socioeconomic status

AbstractBackground: There is a lack of evidence regarding cognitive frailty (CF) and its potential reversibility with a multidomain intervention among older persons. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the WE-RISE™ multidomain intervention in addressing the potential reversibility of CF among community-dwelling older persons from lower SES and to determine if WE-RISE™ is of low cost.Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out over 24 weeks among older persons with CF from lower SES. The experimental group (n=27) received the WE-RISE™ intervention comprising 12 weeks of instruction, community-based intervention and 12 weeks of WE-RISE™@Home, while the control group (n=28) received usual care. CF status, cognitive, physical, nutrition, disability, health-related quality of life, exercise self-efficacy and depression statuses were assessed at baseline and at the 12thand 24thweeks. Changes in CF status were analyzed descriptively, while intervention effects were analyzed with split plot ANOVA. The cost of the WE-RISE™ intervention was calculated using activity-based costing.Results: Within the experimental group, 74.1% and 63% of the participants were no longer cognitively frail at the 12thand 24thweeks, respectively, and significant intervention effects were observed for cognition, physical function, body composition, disability, health-related quality of life and self-perceived exercise self-efficacy (p<0.05) following participation in WE-RISE™. The cost per intervention session was RM4.06 (≈USD0.90), and the cost per subject for 48 sessions was RM194.74 (≈USD43.39).Conclusion: The WE-RISE™ multidomain intervention may have the potential to address the reversible nature of CF, is of low cost, and can contribute significantly to the overall well-being of older adults while ensuring equitable access to healthcare. Trial registration: This trial was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619001055190) on the 29th of July 2019 – retrospectively registered.