At present, there are few intervention studies on cognitive frailty in elderly diabetic patients. This study aims to explore the application effect of Baduanjin combined with cognitive training in elderly diabetic patients with cognitive frailty, in order to provide reference for the management of this population.

To explore the intervention effect of Baduanjin combined with cognitive training on elderly diabetic patients with cognitive frailty.

A total of 84 elderly diabetic patients with cognitive frailty hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital from October 2021 to April 2022 were selected as research subjects by convenient sampling method, and randomly divided into the experimental group (n=42) and the control group (n=42) according to the random number table method. The patients in the experimental group received Baduanjin exercise combined with cognitive training, 3 times per week for 12 weeks; patients in the control group were given routine exercise and health education. General data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, education level, marital status, residential status, personal monthly income, type of medical insurance and number of comorbid chronic diseases. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, Frailty Phenotype (FP) score, gait speed, grip strength and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA_1c) were compared at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks of intervention between the two groups.

During the study period, 3 cases were lost to follow-up in the control group and 2 cases were lost in the experimental group, a total of 79 patients were finally included (39 cases in the control group and 40 cases in the experimental group) . There was no significant difference in the general data between the two groups (P>0.05) . There were interaction effects of group and time on MoCA score, FP score, gait speed and grip strength (P<0.05) . MoCA score of patients in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group at 12 weeks of intervention (P<0.05) , and higher than that at baseline and 6 weeks of intervention (P<0.05) . FP score of patients in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group at 12 weeks of intervention, and lower than that at baseline and 6 weeks of intervention (P<0.05) . Gait speed and grip strength of patients in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group at 12 weeks of intervention, and higher than those at baseline and 6 weeks of intervention (P<0.05) . HbA_1c level of patients in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group, and lower than that at baseline at 12 weeks of intervention (P<0.05) .

Baduanjin combined with cognitive training can slow down the decline of cognitive function in elderly diabetic patients, improve physical frailty and reduce the blood glucose level of patients, which is suitable for vigorously promoting in the clinical and community settings.