UTMB Researchers Help Older Patients Recover Better

A new paper in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences shows potential new ways to speed up recovery from the hospital. UTMB researchers tried different strategies to boost the function of older adults hospitalized for an acute illness. All interventions resulted in better function 1 month after hospital discharge, and, possibly, fewer returns to the hospital. Read a press release from the Sealy Center on Aging.

In this Phase I trial, 100 older adults received different treatments for the 30 days after hospital discharge, a crucial time for recovery from hospitalization. Treatments included a whey protein supplement, a sugar supplement (placebo), in-home rehabilitation, whey protein supplement plus in-home rehabilitation, or testosterone. Those who received any treatment improved their physical function and had a lower rate of return to the hospital than those taking placebo. The paper, “A Phase I Randomized ClinicalTrial of Evidence-Based, Pragmatic Interventions toImprove Functional Recovery After Hospitalization inGeriatric Patients” was written by Rachel R. Deer, Jacques Baillargeon, Steven R. Fisher, Mukaila Raji, and Elena Volpi. It is available online from the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.