Bone health, muscle strength, and frailty in postmenopausal women of African descent with sickle cell trait
Official title: Bone Loss, Physical Function and Frailty in Older Women With Sickle Cell Trait
Run by UConn Health · NCT07083531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | UConn Health Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Farmington, Connecticut) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 23, 2022 |
| Main results expected | August 23, 2025 |
| Study ends | August 23, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | July 24, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07083531 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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 it's running
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UConn Health
Farmington, Connecticut, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Biree Andemariam, MD — UConn Health
- Study coordinator: Zoe Green, BS
- Email: zgreen@uchc.edu
- Phone: 860.679.4656
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.