Center-Based vs Home-Based Geriatric Rehabilitation on Sarcopenia Components: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the available evidence on the components of sarcopenia in geriatric rehabilitation and to examine whether changes in different settings are associated with sarcopenia. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched from initiation to August 30, 2021. STUDY SELECTION: We included randomized controlled trials of older adults receiving geriatric rehabilitation that included strength exercise training. DATA EXTRACTION: The following study contents were extracted: study design, patient characteristics, sample size, description of the rehabilitation setting, follow-up time point, and outcomes. The main outcomes were muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. DATA SYNTHESIS: Weighted mean difference for Timed Up and Go score and standardized mean difference for other parameters were calculated. CONCLUSIONS: Center-based geriatric rehabilitation improved lower limb strength and Timed Up and Go test score to a greater extent than home-based geriatric rehabilitation in elderly people. Center-based training seems to show a minor superior effect on gait speed in prolonged follow-up rather than at the endpoint of intervention. To draw a stronger conclusion, further high-quality trials with standard protocols and longer follow-up are needed.