Leader: Gianluca Testa (UNIMOL); Other collaborator(s): UNIBO/UNIMOL
Cardio respiratory dysfunction is frequently associated with bone metabolism dysfunction with significant implication in falls, chronic pain and disability. In this task mobility and pain assessment will be performed throughout the duration of the study to prevent worsening of functional impairment and the onset of disability in selected subsets of patients and caregivers.
During the study interim analyses will be performed to verify patients and caregivers functional disability onset and progression. These activities will prompt patients and caregiver engagement and continuous education program to case managers.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results
The customization of a web application for dyads functional assessment (i.e. 6-minute walking test), for quality of life assessment, caregiver-patient dyad relationship and technology usability to be connected to the e-health patients management platform is underway
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
A tight collaboration between the reasearch multidisciplinary team and web applications manufactures is ongoing to set-up functional assessmet e-tools.
Web applications for dyads functional assessment (i.e. 6-minute walking test), for quality of life assessment, caregiver-patient dyad relationship and technology usability to be connected to the e-health patients management platform is reaching his final stage. As reported in Task#1 a web app for frailty screening and assessment will be included in the set of tests for dyads assessment.
The e-health based patients and caregiver management platform has almost been completed and coupled with the available wearable monitoring devices. Although not completed, the platform's core functions have been showed in the meeting held in Termoli (CB) on the 12 of september.
As highlighted, frailty and prefrailty status were identified as common ground to assess and monitor dyads status.
Specifically, multidimensional frailty involves physical, mental, psychosocial and nutritional domains which can be affected by both HF and caregiving. Indeed, multidimensional frailty is considered a specific predictor of outcomes in HF and a general risk factor among caregivers, especially when psychosocial and lifestyle domains are involved. Currently, the selection of a suitable screening and assessment tool is underway.
STATUS - 31/03/2025
The screening and assessment tool for multidimensional frailty has been selected. Specifically, to fulfill screening and monitoring needs a 10 yes/no items, including the handgrip test, derived from its 70-items master frailty assessment tool (iFI), has been selected. It explores health domains, cognitive function, need of social support, and nutritional information, and is validated in Italian language and is intended for both nurse- and self-administration. It explores the same domains of multidimensional frailty which can be further characterized in case of impairment, using its master tool, and reported in the patient’s/caregiver’s medical history for intervention.
STATUS - 30/06/2025
The selected screening tool, called (fr)Agile, will be tested in HF patients and its results compared to established HF-specific multidimensional tools which do not including frailty assessment. Such tool was identified in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire for patients (KCCQ), a well-established instrument exploring physical function as limitations on daily activities, symptom burden as frequency and severity of symptoms, quality of life as emotional and social impact, and symptom stability as recent changes in clinical condition.
STATUS - 30/09/2025
Given the promising results of the assessment of the (fr)Agile tool in patients with HF in comparison with the KCCQ, we decided to create an application, separate from the e-health platform developed in task#2, intended to be delivered as a screening tool for multidimensional frailty ready for publication and caregiver or self-administration.
STATUS - 31/012/2025
A beta version of the (fr)Agile application has been released and tested.