Investigation of Respiratory Muscle Sarcopenia in Geriatric Individuals
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Geriatric, Sarcopenia, Diaphragm. Basic parameters: from 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
The increase in the elderly population worldwide necessitates further research on age-related physiological changes and health problems related to these changes in geriatric individuals. One of these problems, sarcopenia, is a syndrome characterized by a decrease in muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance due to aging (Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2019). Sarcopenia affects not only the extremity muscles but also the respiratory muscles, significantly reducing the individual's functional capacity and quality of life (Shafiee et al., 2017). Sarcopenia is a progressive and widespread loss of skeletal muscles, characterized by a decrease in muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance. Although it is usually seen in older individuals, it can also occur in people with certain diseases or who lead a sedentary lifestyle. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) has developed a guideline for the diagnosis of sarcopenia and determination of its severity (Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2019). In line with this guideline, the EWGSOP considers sarcopenia in three basic stages: pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia, and severe sarcopenia (Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2010). Pre-sarcopenia is the stage in which muscle mass is low but muscle strength or physical performance is not yet affected. Sarcopenia is the stage in which low muscle mass is accompanied by decreased muscle strength or low physical performance. Severe sarcopenia is defined as the most advanced stage in which all these criteria are met (Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2010). Respiratory muscle sarcopenia is defined as muscle fiber atrophy and weakness in the respiratory muscles. The Japanese Respiratory Sarcopenia Study Group defines this condition as whole-body sarcopenia with low respiratory muscle mass, decreased respiratory muscle strength, and/or respiratory dysfunction (Nagano et al., 2021). Kera et al. (2019) evaluated respiratory muscle sarcopenia according to the peak expiratory flow rate value. However, whole-body sarcopenia and respiratory muscle strength are considered important parameters in the definition and diagnosis of respiratory muscle sarcopenia. It is reported that the rate of respiratory muscle sarcopenia is higher in the presence of sarcopenia (Nagano et al., 2021). Sarcopenic respiratory failure is diagnosed in the presence of sarcopenia accompanied by functional disability, while individuals without functional disability but at risk for respiratory muscle sarcopenia are considered "at risk of sarcopenic respiratory failure" (Nagano et al., 2021). Sarcopenia is thought to be associated with insulin resistance and oxidative stress, leading to decreased muscle strength and muscle mass, as well as muscle atrophy (Ding et al., 2019). Respiratory muscles may also be affected in a similar way. Thus, weakening of respiratory muscles may lead to decreased respiratory function and decreased quality of life. In the current literature, studies examining the effects of aging on respiratory muscles are limited. Therefore, determining the potential effects of aging on respiratory muscles and evaluating respiratory muscle sarcopenia in this context may provide an important contribution to the development of new approaches and the literature.
Primary outcome measures
- Respiratory Muscle Sarcopenia Assessment [Time frame: Baseline]
Secondary outcome measures (8)
- Demographic and Clinical Information [Time frame: Baseline]
- Body composition [Time frame: Baseline]
- Grip Force Measurement [Time frame: Baseline]
- 5 Repetition Sit and Stand Test [Time frame: Baseline]
- 4 Meter Walking Speed Test (4MWT) [Time frame: Baseline]
- Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) [Time frame: Baseline]
- Respiratory muscle strength [Time frame: Baseline]
- 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT): [Time frame: Baseline]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Being 65 years of age or older.
- Being clinically stable
- Being able to adapt to tests (visual, cognitive, cooperative)
Exclusion criteria
- Those with neurological and/or musculoskeletal problems that may affect the study
- Presence of severe joint contracture or painful ulcers that may affect muscle strength measurement and walking
- Presence of serious infection or sepsis
- Having a known additional rheumatologic disease diagnosis
- Any stage of cancer
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06994598 · 2025-AEU-FTR-MK-02