Effects of exercise with music in frail older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives
Frail older adults need to improve their health through exercise, and effective interventions are necessary to ensure their participation. Exercise with music has been shown to enhance adherence among older adults and improve both physical and mental health outcomes, making it a suitable intervention for frail older adults. This study evaluated the impact of exercise with music on the physical and emotional health of frail, community-dwelling older adults.

Design
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

Data sources
MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and the Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library were last searched on 14 March 2025.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that applied exercise with music to community-dwelling frail older adults.

Data extraction and synthesis
Five independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. Study quality was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool and the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions tool. A meta-analysis and narrative synthesis were conducted, and the findings were summarised using Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation evidence profiles. Publication bias was checked, and sensitivity analyses were used to assess the robustness of the results.

Results
After screening the initial 1425 studies, 17 studies (13 RCTs and 4 non-RCTs) were analysed. The overall risk of bias indicated that two had high risk and three had serious risk among the RCTs, and two had serious risk and two had moderate risk among the non-RCTs included in the meta-analysis. As for physical health outcomes, studies reported on frailty, Timed Up and Go (TUG), handgrip strength, falls, balance, gait speed, endurance and other performance. As for emotional health outcomes, studies reported on depression, social support and activities, quality of life or satisfaction and cognitive function. The pooled analysis suggested that exercise with music may have a positive effect on reducing frailty (standardised mean difference (SMD)=–0.20, 95% CI=–0.34 to –0.07, p=0.003, I2=0%; very low certainty) and decreasing depression levels (SMD=–0.40, 95% CI=–0.65 to –0.15, p=0.002, I2=0%; very low certainty) compared with control group outcomes in non-RCTs. However, there was no effect on the TUG and handgrip strength. A narrative synthesis of evidence suggested potential beneficial effects on frailty and depression.

Conclusions
Exercise with music may help improve frail older adults’ physical and emotional health and potentially reduce the burden of frailty. However, further rigorous investigation is needed, as the evidence has a very low level of certainty. Additionally, results from this review should be interpreted with caution because of concerns associated with the risk of bias. Community-based health professionals should consider using music when providing exercise interventions to frail older adults, while applying tailored approaches that consider their unique needs.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42022369774.

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Clinical protocol for nutritional screening in autism (PANA): a cross-sectional study protocol

Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often accompanied by a variety of comorbidities. A high prevalence of patients has difficulties with food intake, which can lead to malnutrition, obesity and dyslipidaemia. Although several factors influencing dietary intake in this population have been investigated in the literature, the lack of standardised assessment protocols has led to heterogeneous results across studies. This study protocol describes the methodology used to assess nutritional aspects such as feeding problems, food intake and biochemical variables in children and adolescents with ASD.

Methods and analysis
The clinical protocol for nutritional screening in autism is a clinically based cross-sectional study design that focuses on the assessment of nutrition in children and adolescents with ASD aged 2 to under 19 years. Participants and caregivers are assessed in three clinical steps by a team of dietitians. Nutritional aspects are assessed, such as feeding behaviour (Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory, Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire), food intake (3 non-consecutive days of 24-hour food record), anthropometric measurements to calculate nutritional indicators according to WHO standards and blood samples (analysis of fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and its subfractions). The data collected have the potential for descriptive and multivariate analyses to investigate associations among clinical, dietary difficulties, nutritional and biochemical variables.

Ethics and dissemination
The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of the Federal University of Pelotas (CAEE: 94253518.0.0000.5317). The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conferences.

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Identifying Who Is at Risk of Interval Breast Cancers

Despite advances in technology, some women are clinically diagnosed with breast cancer after a negative screening mammography result and prior to the next screening round. These breast cancers—known as interval cancers—are collectively more aggressive and more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage compared to women with screen-detected cancers. Decreasing interval cancer rates are therefore considered an important goal for improving the effectiveness of breast cancer screening programs. If patients at high risk of presenting with an interval cancer can be identified, then theoretically these individuals could benefit from more frequent or intensive screening.

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Promises and Pitfalls of 3D Total-Body Photography for Melanoma Early Detection

Total-body photography (TBP) has been used by dermatologists for approximately 40 years to enhance melanoma screening efforts. Advances in noninvasive skin imaging technology hold promise for improving melanoma outcomes by enhancing early detection, decreasing the number of benign lesions biopsied, and even reducing the cost of care. However, that promise remains theoretical unless the technology is subject to rigorous evaluation, ideally in the form of a clinical trial.

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To prescribe or not to prescribe in the elderly: a qualitative exploration of prescribing dilemmas among Pakistani healthcare providers

Objective
Potentially inappropriate prescribing is a global health issue with catastrophic consequences in the elderly population. Healthcare providers play a critical role in medication optimisation in elderly patients. The present study aims to explore the perceptions of healthcare professionals (prescribers) regarding the complexities of inappropriate prescribing practices in the elderly population.

Design
A qualitative study using semistructured interviews was conducted. All the data were transcribed verbatim and analysed via Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach.

Setting
Prescribers working in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Participants
Prescribers having more than 5 years of experience in elderly prescribing. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, and recruitment continued until the point of data saturation, meaning no new major themes emerged.

Results
13 prescribers, five females and eight males with an average experience of 15.3 years, were interviewed. The interviews lasted for an average of 15 min. The analysis revealed three primary themes: (1) inappropriate prescribing, characterised by knowledge and awareness of inappropriate prescribing and its assessment tools; (2) complexities in elderly prescribing, highlighting patient factors such as comorbidities, polypharmacy, psychological issues and socioeconomic challenges, as well as prescriber factors; and (3) interventions to improve prescribing, emphasising the role of pharmacists in enhancing medication safety, the importance of effective patient–prescriber relationships through counselling and the need for regulatory measures to monitor prescribing behaviours. Inadequate knowledge of standardised assessment tools such as the Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment/Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions criteria, time constraints faced by prescribers and fragmented healthcare systems were some of the barriers identified by the respondents in medication optimisation for elderly individuals.

Conclusion
The findings highlight the need for enhanced education on standardised assessment tools and the implementation of targeted interventions. A key recommendation is the integration of clinical pharmacists into care teams to optimise prescribing practices.

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Association of hyperuricaemia and hyperglycaemia with risk of in-hospital mortality in acute aortic dissection: a multicentre cohort study in the Han Chinese population

Objective
The objective is to investigate the association of hyperuricaemia and hyperglycaemia with an increased risk of mortality in acute aortic dissection (AAD).

Design
Retrospective multicentre cohort study.

Setting
De-identified information of patients was collected from electronic medical records between 2010 and 2021 across five hospitals in China.

Participants
A total of 2603 AAD patients from 5337 patients who underwent arterial aortic computed tomographic angiography were selected after three rounds of screening.

Main outcome measure
All-cause in-hospital mortality.

Results
Of the 2603 patients, 20.3% were women, and the mean age was 54 years old. In-hospital mortality risk escalated linearly with increased levels of uric acid (P non-linearity=0.1699) and serum glucose (P non-linearity=0.2423). The per SD of increment in uric acid was associated with 40% (1.40, 1.22 to 1.60) in HR and 95% CI of AAD all-cause in-hospital mortality and 39% (1.39, 1.22 to 1.58) in serum glucose after full adjustment. Patients with a decrease in uric acid and/or serum glucose within the 7 days preceding admission showed significantly lower in-hospital mortality compared with those without a decrease. Notably, patients exhibiting both hyperuricaemia and serum glucose >180.2 mg/dL faced over double mortality risk (2.21, 1.58 to 3.10) compared with those with normal uric acid and normal serum glucose levels.

Conclusions
Hyperuricaemia and hyperglycaemia are significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality among AAD patients in the Han Chinese population. These findings suggest the importance of monitoring and managing uric acid and glucose levels in AAD patients to potentially improve outcomes.

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Investigating biological mechanisms of adverse birth outcomes and early child development in Amhara, Ethiopia: protocol of biospecimen collection and analysis of the Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) randomised effectiveness study

Introduction
Maternal undernutrition and infections during pregnancy may influence birth and long-term child development outcomes. Characterising the micronutrient, metabolomic and microbiome profiles of pregnant women and infants may elucidate the underlying biology of adverse birth outcomes and early child development in the first 1000 days.

Methods and analysis
The Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment (ENAT) study was a 2×2 factorial, randomised clinical effectiveness study conducted in Amhara, Ethiopia from August 2020 to June 2022. We cluster-randomised pregnant women (n=2399) to receive either a nutrition intervention (iron-folic acid (IFA), iodised salt and balanced energy-protein supplementation for women with mid-upper arm circumference

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Global dengue fever management in health systems: identifying strategies, challenges and solutions – a scoping review protocol

Introduction
Dengue fever, the fastest-spreading mosquito-borne viral disease, poses a significant global public health challenge. Over the past two decades, its rapid spread has been driven by urbanisation, climate change and international travel, particularly affecting tropical and subtropical regions. Despite its considerable economic burden, effective antiviral treatments and vaccines remain unavailable. This study aims to bridge gaps in dengue fever management by systematically identifying and analysing strategies, challenges and solutions adopted within health systems worldwide.

Methods and analysis
This scoping review will adopt the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley. A comprehensive search will be conducted across databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library, along with grey literature sources and manual reference list searches, covering the period from 2003 to 2024, limited to English-language publications. Search strategies will be developed using controlled vocabulary and key terms associated with various components of dengue fever management. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by full text screening to determine final eligibility. A descriptive numerical analysis will summarise the characteristics of included studies, while a thematic analysis will provide an overview of the literature, encompassing strategies, challenges and solutions.

Ethics and dissemination
This study, approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUMS.REC.1403.142), adheres to ethical guidelines for handling publicly available data. All findings will be transparently reported and disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, relevant conferences and stakeholder engagement.

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Sustainability of fall prevention exercise programmes for community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review protocol

Introduction
Falls have financial, emotional and physical implications for ageing individuals and the healthcare system. Evidence-based exercise programmes have been one of the most effective ways of preventing falls in community dwellings for older adults. However, more research is needed to understand how to sustain these programmes. This scoping review protocol describes our plan to investigate the factors influencing the sustainability of community-based fall prevention exercise programmes.

Methods and analysis
Our scoping review will use the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews framework. The studies will have no restrictions, including publication date, language or geographic location. Key search terms concerning programme sustainability and exercise falls prevention will be conducted in Medline, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Academic Search Premier, APA PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus in consultation with an experienced librarian. Once duplicates have been removed, two independent reviewers will conduct title and abstract screening, full-text screening and data extraction. Data from eligible articles will be collated and charted to summarise data into three categories: (1) study description, including publication date, author(s), study location, paper’s aim/purpose, study participants, study design and conclusion; (2) data regarding the type of exercise programme will be used using the 16-point checklist Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template; and (3) data regarding sustainability will be organised using domains from the Program Sustainability Assessment Tool. Our results will be charted through the use of Covidence to identify patterns across the studies. Additionally, narrative synthesis will be employed to articulate the study findings.

Ethics and dissemination
As this is a scoping review, we do not require ethics approval. We intend to share our report findings with scientists, healthcare professionals and decision-makers. We will publish our results in reputable scientific journals and present them at relevant conferences.

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