Bone health, muscle strength, and frailty in postmenopausal women of African descent with sickle cell trait

Bone Loss, Physical Function and Frailty in Older Women With Sickle Cell Trait

We will see if postmenopausal women of African descent who have sickle cell trait are more likely to have thinner bones, weaker muscles, or greater frailty than women without the trait.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Ages: 50 Years and up
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: UConn Health (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Farmington, Connecticut)
• Trial ID: NCT07083531 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a cross-sectional comparison of about 50 postmenopausal women of African descent, grouping participants by hemoglobin genotype (normal versus sickle cell trait). Participants are age 50 or older and have not had a menstrual period for at least 12 months; SCT status will be determined as part of the visit if unknown. The study measures bone mineral density, skeletal muscle function, and clinical markers of frailty and compares these outcomes between groups. Individuals taking medications or with medical conditions that strongly affect bone metabolism or with documented sickle cell disease are excluded.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are women of African descent aged 50 or older who are postmenopausal, not taking medications that alter bone metabolism, and without diagnosed sickle cell disease.

Not a fit: Men, younger or premenopausal women, people of other ancestries, those with documented sickle cell disease, or those taking bone-active medications are unlikely to be eligible or benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify sickle cell trait as an overlooked risk factor that would support earlier screening or prevention to reduce fractures and frailty in affected women.

How similar studies have performed: This specific focus on sickle cell trait and bone/muscle outcomes is relatively novel, and prior evidence linking SCT to bone loss and frailty is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Female of African Decent.
* Age 50 years or older.
* Lack of menstrual period for at least 12 consecutive months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Taking medications known to influence bone metabolism (e.g., glucocorticoids, hormonal therapy, cancer or chemotherapy meds, anti-resorptive medications or anabolic therapies).
* Known metabolic bone disorder (e.g., uncontrolled thyroid disease, hyperparathyroidism, Vitamin D deficiency)
* Taking an investigational drug
* Documented sickle cell disease

Where this trial is running

Farmington, Connecticut

• UConn Health — Farmington, Connecticut, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Biree Andemariam, MD — UConn Health
• Study coordinator: Zoe Green, BS

Conditions Sickle Cell Disease; Sickle Cell Trait