Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 75 and up

Evaluating calf circumference for diagnosing sarcopenia in elderly hospitalized patients

Official title: Evaluation of a Diagnostic Method: Calf Circumference Versus X-ray Absorptiometry in the Diagnosis of Sarcopenia in Elderly Hospitalized Participants

Run by Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans · NCT05869487 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if measuring calf size can help doctors diagnose sarcopenia in hospitalized patients aged 75 and older, instead of using the more complicated X-ray method.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages75 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment298 (estimated)
SponsorCentre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Orléans)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 11, 2023
Main results expectedApril 11, 2027
Study endsApril 11, 2027
Registry record updatedDecember 30, 2025
Trial IDNCT05869487 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates for this study are hospitalized patients aged 75 years and older who show signs of undernutrition and decreased muscle strength.

Probably not a fit

Patients with phenotypic criteria for undernutrition unrelated to sarcopenia or those unable to undergo X-ray absorptiometry will not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This prospective single-center study aims to assess the effectiveness of measuring calf circumference as a diagnostic tool for sarcopenia in hospitalized patients aged 75 and older. The study compares this method to the gold standard of X-ray absorptiometry, which is not routinely performed in this population. Participants will be hospitalized individuals with indications of sarcopenia, and measurements will be taken prior to the absorptiometry assessment. The results will be analyzed in a blinded manner to ensure objectivity.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a simpler and more accessible method for diagnosing sarcopenia in elderly patients, potentially improving their care and outcomes.

How similar studies have gone: While the use of calf circumference as a diagnostic tool has been explored, this specific comparison with X-ray absorptiometry in hospitalized elderly patients is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age greater than or equal to 75 years
* Hospitalization in a medical department or in the follow-up care or rehabilitation department of the Hospital Center of Orléans
* Presence of an etiological criterion of undernutrition
* Presence of a decrease in muscle strength

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of one of two phenotypic criteria for undernutrition other than sarcopenia, which are body mass index less than 22 kilogram per square meter and weight loss (≥ 5 percent over 1 month or ≥ 10 percent over 6 months or ≥10 percent compared with usual weight before the disease).
* Refusal to participate in the study
* Patient under legal protection
* Impossible to perform X-ray absorptiometry (behavioral problems, functional constraints to climb on the DXA machine)
* Person not affiliated to a social security system

Where it's running

  • CHU d'Orléans
    Orléans, France
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.