Muscle loss and death in critically ill patients
Official title: Mortality and Muscle Mass Loss in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Study.
Run by Brno University Hospital · NCT07280039 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether losing 10% of calf/upper leg muscle mass in the first week of ICU stay is linked to higher 28-day mortality in adults on mechanical ventilation.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 386 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Brno University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brno, Bohunice) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 27, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 15, 2027 |
| Study ends | January 15, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | October 19, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07280039 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) who require mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours and can undergo day 1 and day 7 ultrasound assessments.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with conditions preventing reliable ultrasound measurement or who cannot complete day 7 assessment may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study will measure rectus femoris muscle area by ultrasound within 24 hours of ICU admission and again on day 7 in adults expected to need mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours. It will monitor changes in muscle mass during the first week of critical illness and examine whether a ≥10% decrease is associated with higher 28-day mortality. Data will be collected from ICU patients at Brno University Hospital and analyzed by a single investigator to limit measurement variation. Enrollment will occur from December 2025 to December 2026 after informed consent, with 28-day outcomes recorded for all participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the association is confirmed, this could help identify patients at higher risk of early death and inform strategies to preserve muscle mass in the ICU.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using ultrasound to measure muscle size in critical illness has shown associations with outcomes, but this study adds a focused threshold (≥10% loss) and prospective daily ultrasound measurements.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * age ≥18 years * mechanical ventilation expected for at least 48 hours Exclusion Criteria: * Clinical Frailty Score above 7 prior admission * Neuromuscular disease in previous medical history * Amputated lower extremities * Trauma of lower extremities involving tights * Conditions affecting the nervous system with involvement of the thigh muscle * Inability to cooperate during ultrasound examination * Inability to perform ultrasound examination on day 7 9\. Inability to perform ultrasound examination on day 7
Where it's running
-
The University Hospital Brno
Brno, Bohunice, Czechia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jana Fialová, M.D.
- Email: 1149@fnbrno.cz
- Phone: +42053322305
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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.