Front Public Health. 2026 Oct 16;14:1838558. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1838558. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess how integrated care for older people (ICOPE)-based discharge planning (DP) affects older patients’ intrinsic capacity (IC).
METHODS: Between December 2023 and June 2024, 112 geriatric inpatients were randomly assigned to control (routine care) or Experimental (routine care + ICOPE discharge services) groups. Intrinsic capacity domains were evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery, Saint Louis University Mental Status, Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form tools and self-report at discharge and 3 months post-discharge. Analysis of covariance and binary logistic regression were used, with baseline scores, living status and gender as covariates. The primary analysis was supplemented by a sensitivity analysis using continuous domain scores as separate outcomes to verify the robustness of the composite score findings.
RESULTS: 108 patients completed follow-up. Intrinsic capacity decline was lower in the experimental group (1.2 ± 0.2) than in the control group (3.1 ± 0.3; mean difference: -1.9, 95% CI: -2.5 to -1.3, p < 0.001). Motor, cognitive, psychological and nutritional domains improved more in the Experimental group (all p < 0.001); sensory function showed no difference (p = 0.267).
CONCLUSION: The ICOPE-based DP approach slows IC decline and enhances multiple functional domains, offering a valuable reference for transitional care for older adults.
PMID:42964026 | PMC:PMC13719313 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1838558
