BACKGROUND: The ongoing "Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT)" randomized controlled trial (RCT) is testing the efficacy of a multicomponent intervention in the prevention of mobility disability in older adults with physical frailty & sarcopenia (PF&S). Here, we describe the procedures followed for PF&S case finding and screening of candidate participants for the SPRINTT RCT. We also illustrate the main demographic and clinical characteristics of eligible screenees. METHODS: The identification of PF&S was based on the co-occurrence of three defining elements: (1) reduced physical performance (defined as a score on the Short Physical Performance Battery between 3 and 9); (2) low muscle mass according to the criteria released by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health; and (3) absence of mobility disability (defined as ability to complete the 400-m walk test in 15 min). SPRINTT was advertised through a variety of means. Site-specific case finding strategies were developed to accommodate the variability across centers in catchment area characteristics and access to the target population. A quick "participant profiling" questionnaire was devised to facilitate PF&S case finding. RESULTS: During approximately 22 months, 12,358 prescreening interviews were completed in 17 SPRINTT sites resulting in 6710 clinic screening visits. Eventually, 1566 candidates were found to be eligible for participating in the SPRINTT RCT. Eligible screenees showed substantial physical function impairment and comorbidity burden. In most centers, project advertisement through mass media was the most rewarding case finding strategy. CONCLUSION: PF&S case finding in the community is a challenging, but feasible task. Although largely autonomous in daily life activities, older adults with PF&S suffer from significant functional impairment and comorbidity. This subset of the older population is therefore at high risk for disability and other negative health-related events. Key strategies to consider for successfully intercepting at-risk older adults should focus on mass communication methods.

BlueCompanion Ltd London UK; Biophytis Paris France

Department of Aging and Geriatric Research Institute on Aging University of Florida Gainesville FL USA

Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health University of Milan Italy; Geriatric Unit Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan Italy

Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation University Hospital of Parma Parma Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma Parma Italy

Department of Geriatrics 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Geriatrics Faculty of Medicine Landspitali University Hospital University of Iceland Reykjavik Iceland

Department of Health Services Research Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht the Netherlands

Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology Faculty of Medicine Jagiellonian University Medical College Krakow Poland

Department of Internal Medicine Medical University of Graz Graz Austria

Department of Respiratory Medicine School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht the Netherlands

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome Italy

Foundation for Diabetes Research in Older People Diabetes Frail Limited Worcestershire UK

Geriatria Accettazione Geriatrica e Centro di Ricerca per l'Invecchiamento IRCCS INRCA Ancona Italy

Geriatric Department Silesians Hospital Opava Czech Republic

Gérontopôle University Hospital of Toulouse Toulouse France

Institute for Biomedicine of Aging Friedrich Alexander University Nuremberg Germany

Research Unit of Medicine of Aging Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine University of Florence Florence Italy; Division of Geriatric Cardiology and Medicine Department of Geriatrics and Medicine Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi Florence Italy

Sanofi R and D Chilly Mazarin Paris France

Scientific Direction IRCCS INRCA Ancona Italy

Service of Geriatrics Getafe University Hospital Madrid Spain

Servicio de Geriatría Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal Madrid Spain

Translational Medicine Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research Basel Switzerland

University Hospital of Limoges Limoges France

University of Helsinki Clinicum Helsinki Finland; Helsinki University Hospital Medicine and Rehabilitation Helsinki Finland; University of Oulu Center for Life Course Health Research Oulu Finland

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Adherence to Physical Activity and Incident Mobility Disability in Older Adults With Mobility Limitations

Multicomponent intervention to prevent mobility disability in frail older adults: randomised controlled trial (SPRINTT project)

Preserving Mobility in Older Adults with Physical Frailty and Sarcopenia: Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations for Physical Activity Interventions