Table 2 Characteristics of the participants at baseline

CAREGIVERS

Exercise Group

(n = 4)

Control Group

(n = 5)

p^a

Age (years)

37.75 ± 8.14

36.40 ± 7.54

0.806

Geriatric working experience (years)

9.50 ± 3.51

8.60 ± 2.51

0.683

CARE RECEIVERS

Exercise Group

(n = 38)

Control Group

(n = 26)

p^a

Age (years)

77.29 ± 8.60

80.15 ± 2.80

0.179

Men, No. (%)

14 (36.8%)

5 (19.2%)

0.169

CDR (points)

1.18 ± 0.90

1.13 ± 0.63

0.808

MMSE (points)

18.11 ± 4.81

17.77 ± 5.07

0.268

Educational level (years)

2.60 ± 1.72

2.27 ± 1.54

0.381

Neurocognitive Disorder due to, No. (%)

0.259

 Alzheimer’s Disease

16 (42.1%)

18 (69.2%)

 Vascular Disease

6 (15.8%)

3 (11.5%)

 Parkinson’s Disease

1 (2.6%)

0 (0%)

 Lewy Bodies Disease

1 (2.6%)

0 (0%)

 Unspecified

14 (36.8%)

5 (19.2%)

Diagnosis, No. (%) (Others than NCD)

 Hypertension

14 (36.8%)

4 (15.4%)

0.045*

 Heart Disease

9 (23.7%)

2 (7.7%)

0.141

 Diabetes mellitus

5 (13.2%)

5 (19.2%)

0.463

 Osteoporosis

3 (7.9%)

3 (11.5%)

0.650

 Systolic

126.72 ± 22.50

128.81 ± 22.10

0.718

 Diastolic

76.47 ± 14.64

76.73 ± 17.31

0.950

 Lower Strength (reps)

8.95 ± 4.31

9.96 ± 4.16

0.352

 Upper-Strength (reps)

9.71 ± 5.18

11.77 ± 4.11

0.096

 Lower Flexibility (cm)

20.86 ± 10.43

19.69 ± 12.82

0.691

 Agility/ Dynamic balance (sec)

19.33 ± 10.86

20.36 ± 12.52

0.726

 Upper Flexibility (cm)

43.53 ± 16.44

42.88 ± 10.34

0.861

 Aerobic Endurance (steps)

58.61 ± 32.82

69.46 ± 34.72

0.209