Research response to coronavirus disease 2019 needed better coordination and collaboration: a living mapping of registered trials

Objectives: Researchers worldwide are actively engaging in research activities to search for preventive and therapeutic interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our aim was to describe the planning of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in terms of timing related to the course of the COVID-19 epidemic and research question evaluated. Study Design and Setting: We performed a living mapping of RCTs registered in the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We systematically search the platform every week for all RCTs evaluating preventive interventions and treatments for COVID-19 and created a publicly available interactive mapping tool at https://covid-nma.com to visualize all trials registered. Results: By August 12, 2020, 1,568 trials for COVID-19 were registered worldwide. Overall, the median ([Q1–Q3]; range) delay between the first case recorded in each country and the first RCT registered was 47 days ([33–67]; 15–163). For the 9 countries with the highest number of trials registered, most trials were registered after the peak of the epidemic (from 100% trials in Italy to 38% in the United States). Most trials evaluated treatments (1,333 trials; 85%); only 223 (14%) evaluated preventive strategies and 12 postacute period intervention. A total of 254 trials were planned to assess different regimens of hydroxychloroquine with an expected sample size of 110,883 patients. Conclusion: This living mapping analysis showed that COVID-19 trials have relatively small sample size with certain redundancy in research questions. Most trials were registered when the first peak of the pandemic has passed

Adherence to a Physical Activity Program Depends on Individual Fitness Purpose in Older Persons

International audienceThe effect of a long-term program on adherence in older adults seeking to improve low physical fitness compared to a multiactivity practice was studied. Seventy persons (+ 60 years) took part in 10 months program, distributing in three groups: low cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness (n=25, CMF), low coordination and motor skills (n=21, CBM) and free-choice multi-physical activities (n=24, MPA). Adherence was assessed by quantitative indicators and analysis of temporal dynamics. Adherence was 61.3 ± 25.8% for the CMF group, 49.7 ± 25.0% for the CBM and 33.3 ± 25.8 for the MPA. Only about 42% of the participants in MPA would continue the program for 10 consecutive months. The curve of adherence decreased regularly during the 10-month program: after 6 months adherence had fallen by 20% for CMF and by 14% for CBM, and after 10 months by 24% for CMF and by 19% for CBM. When physical activity program was supervised by the same instructor and when the participant's individual goal was clear, adherence was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the range 76-81%

Large-Scale Assessment of Health-Related Physical Fitness in French Older Adults: Feasibility and Validity

International audienceObjectives: This study aims to assess the validity, internal consistency, implementation, and feasibility of a sequence of tests, the Vitality Test Battery, designed to measure physical fitness, at a large scale in French older adults. Methods: A total of 528 volunteers (age ≥60 years) took the battery of 10 tests: 6-min walk, trunk strength, hand grip strength, medicine ball throwing, 30-s chair stand, flexibility, balance, plate tapping, ruler drop, and dual task. Results: Internal consistency was high, with the Cronbach alpha coefficients at around 0.77, explaining 64% of the variance. The test–retest correlations (0.3–0.6) between the items were acceptable and displayed an internal consistency property. Although five components explained 65% of the variance, all the items were kept because their eigenvalues were near to 0.9. External consistency was validated by a significant decrease in fitness scores ( p &lt; 0.001) with age and body mass index. Discussion: The Vitality Test Battery is a safe, valid tool for assessing physical fitness in persons aged over 60 years