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March 5, 2026BMC Geriatrics0 citationsOpen Access

Evaluating the efficacy of dual-task training in older patients with chronic heart failure and comorbid cognitive frailty: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

XWXinkun WangXLXiaona LiMLMei Lu

Key Result

No results reported as paper is a study protocol; efficacy of dual-task training in older CHF patients with cognitive frailty will be evaluated in a planned randomized controlled trial.

Key Points

  • To investigate the effects of dual-task training on cognitive function, frailty, and quality of life in older patients with chronic heart failure and cognitive frailty.
  • Single-center, randomized controlled, single-blind clinical trial
  • Participants: 72 older patients with cognitive frailty and chronic heart failure
  • Random assignment to intervention group (dual-task training) or control group (routine care)
  • Intervention involves dual-task training three times per week for three months
  • Primary outcomes: cognitive function and physical frailty; secondary outcomes: exercise endurance, lower limb muscle strength, grip strength, and quality of life.
  • Expected improvement in cognitive function and frailty status in the intervention group
  • Possible enhancement in quality of life and cardiac function
  • Evaluation of exercise endurance and muscle strength among participants.

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=72)

Blinding

Single-blind (assessors blinded)

Randomization

Computer-generated random number sequence with allocation concealment by opaque sealed envelopes

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does progressive dual-task training improve cognitive function and physical frailty in older patients with chronic heart failure and comorbid cognitive frailty?

P
Population
72 older patients (age ≥ 60 years) hospitalized with chronic heart failure (NYHA class II-III) and comorbid cognitive frailty (FRAIL scale ≥ 1, MoCA < 26).
I
Intervention
Progressive dual-task training (simultaneous motor and cognitive tasks) 3 times per week for 3 months, added to routine care.
C
Comparator
Routine care (including health education, medication administration, dietary care, psychological support, exercise methods, and self-care).
O
Outcome
Cognitive function (assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]) and physical frailty (assessed by FRAIL Scale) at 3 months.

Limitations

  • Study results not available as this is a protocol paper
  • Single-center study limits generalizability
  • Small sample size (N=72) may affect power
  • Single-blind design may introduce bias

Abstract

Chronic heart failure (CHF) represents the severe manifestation or end stage of various cardiac diseases, characterized by high morbidity, readmission rates, and mortality. With the intensification of global population aging, the prevalence of CHF has risen significantly among the older population, becoming a major issue affecting seniors' health and quality of life. Aging not only increases CHF prevalence but also exacerbates its complexity and treatment difficulty. Recent studies indicate that CHF patients exhibit cognitive frailty, which significantly elevates their risks of readmission, diminished quality of life, and mortality. However, there is currently a lack of intervention strategies specifically targeting CHF patients with cognitive frailty. This study aims to investigate the comprehensive intervention effects of dual-task training on cognitive function, frailty phenotype, and quality of life in older patients with CHF through standardized randomized controlled trials, providing new pathways for optimizing geriatric comorbidity management. This is a single-center, randomized controlled, single-blind clinical trial aiming to recruit 72 older patients with cognitive frailty and CHF hospitalized in the cardiology department. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or the control group. Those in the intervention group will receive the progressive dual-task training intervention, while those in the control group will receive routine care. Participants in the intervention group will undergo this dual-task training three times per week for a period of three months. The primary outcome measures are cognitive function and physical frailty, while the secondary outcomes include exercise endurance, lower limb muscle strength, grip strength, and quality of life. This randomized controlled clinical trial will evaluate whether dual-task training improves cognitive function, frailty status, cardiac function, and quality of life in older patients with CHF and cognitive frailty. The results will provide further research evidence for clinical application in this population. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2500105453, Registered July 3, 2025.

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Cite This Study

Wang et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Older patients (≥60 years) with chronic heart failure (NYHA class II-III) and comorbid cognitive frailty defined by FRAIL scale ≥1 and MoCA score <26 without dementia (n=72). Dual-task training (DTT) vs. Routine care was evaluated on Cognitive function and physical frailty. No results reported as paper is a study protocol; efficacy of dual-task training in older CHF patients with cognitive frailty will be evaluated in a planned randomized controlled trial.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a91e2cd6127c7a504c1ed0https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-06987-w
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