A randomized clinical trial of outpatient comprehensive geriatric assessment coupled with an intervention to increase adherence to recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Although comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has been demonstrated to confer health benefits in some settings, its value in outpatient or office settings is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of outpatient CGA consultation coupled with an adherence intervention on 15-month health outcomes.

DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: Community-based sites.

PATIENTS: 363 community-dwelling older persons who had failed a screen for at least one of four conditions (falls, urinary incontinence, depressive symptoms, or functional impairment)

INTERVENTION: A single outpatient CGA consultation coupled with an intervention to improve primary care physician and patient adherence with CGA recommendations.

MEASUREMENTS: Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36), restricted activity and bed days, Physical Performance Test, NIA lower-extremity battery.

RESULTS: In complete case analysis (excluding the five control group subjects who died during the follow-up period), the adjusted difference in change scores (4.69 points) for physical functioning between treatment and control groups indicated a significant benefit of treatment (P = .021). Similar benefits were demonstrated for number of restricted activity days and MOS SF-36 energy/fatigue, social functioning, and physical health summary scales. In analyses assigning scores of 0 to those who died, these benefits were greater, and significant benefits for the Physical Performance Test and MOS SF-36 emotional/well being, pain, and mental health summary scales were also demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS: A single outpatient comprehensive geriatric assessment coupled with an adherence intervention can prevent functional and health-related quality-of-life decline among community-dwelling older persons who have specific geriatric conditions.