The Community Ageing Research 75+ Study (CARE75+): an experimental ageing and frailty research cohort

Introduction: The Community Ageing Research 75+ Study (CARE75+) is a longitudinal cohort study collecting an extensive range of health, social and economic data, with a focus on frailty, independence and quality of life in older age. CARE75+ is the first international experimental frailty research cohort designed using Trial within Cohort (TwiCs) methodology, to align applied epidemiological research with clinical trial evaluation of interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people living with frailty. Methods and analysis: Prospective cohort study using a trial within cohort (TwiCs) design. One thousand community-dwelling older people (≥75years) will be recruited from UK general practices. Nursing home residents, those with an estimated life expectancy of three months or less and people receiving palliative care will be excluded. Data collection assessments will be face-to-face in the person’s home at baseline, six months, 12 months, 24 month and 48 months, including assessments of frailty, cognition, mood, health-related quality of life, comorbidity, medications, resilience, loneliness, pain and self-efficacy. A modified protocol for follow-up by telephone or web-based will be offered at six months. Consent will be sought for data linkage and invitations to additional studies, including intervention studies using the TwiCs design. A blood sample bio-bank will be established for future basic science studies. Ethics and dissemination: CARE75+ was approved by the NRES Committee Yorkshire & the Humber - Bradford Leeds 10th October 2014 (14/YH/1120). Formal written consent is sought if an individual is willing to participate and has capacity to provide informed consent. Consultee assent is sought if an individual lacks capacity. Study results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed scientific journals and scientific conferences. Key study results will be summarised and disseminated to all study participants via newsletters, local older people’s publications and local engagement events. Results will be reported on a bespoke CARE75+ website.