Lifestyle programs did not clearly reduce medication dose burden in older adults
Compared with control groups, lifestyle programs did not significantly reduce medication dose burden in older adults with physical limitations. A model found higher pain-medication use in the SPRINTT intervention group.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
These analyses did not find a statistically significant reduction in medication dose burden from lifestyle interventions in older adults with physical limitations. The exception was an association with higher pain-medication dose burden in the SPRINTT intervention group over time. The overall null result does not establish that the programs had no effect on medication use.
Medication burden was examined in secondary analyses, rather than trials specifically designed to test medication reduction. The abstract does not describe the control programs or report overall follow-up duration.
What medication burden meant
Researchers measured daily medication dose burden for cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, mood and anxiety, and chronic pain. This outcome concerns medication amounts, rather than demonstrating whether participants' underlying conditions or overall health improved during the programs.
The exception needs context
Most modeled medication outcomes showed no significant association with intervention assignment. Pain-medication dose burden in SPRINTT was the exception. The abstract does not explain why it rose, so the result cannot identify an underlying cause.
The original publication
Lifestyle interventions and medication burden in older adults: insights from the Lifestyle Intervention and Independence for Elders (LIFE) and the Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty iN older people: multi-componenT Treatment strategies (SPRINTT) trials.
Levati E, Zazzara MB, Iurlaro A et al.
Eur Geriatr Med · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40665144
- Record checked
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