Using step counts and muscle tests to measure frailty in hospitalized older adults
Assessing a New Tool to Assess Frailty in Frail Hospitalized Elderly
This project will test whether wearing a small thigh device plus simple muscle, grip, and walking tests can help track frailty in hospitalized people aged 65 and older.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of British Columbia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Vancouver, British Columbia) |
| Trial ID | NCT04366388 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Hospitalized patients aged 65 and older admitted to the ACE Unit will wear an ActivPAL device on the dominant thigh to record step counts and posture. Investigators will collect demographics, vitals, medication list, and past medical history, perform ultrasound measurements of leg muscles, conduct three grip-strength trials with a dynamometer, and time a 10–15 meter walk. Data are collected at admission (2–3 hours) and again at discharge (up to 10 minutes). The study aims to correlate step counts and muscle measures with frailty and sarcopenia in an inpatient setting.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are ambulatory patients aged 65 or older who are admitted to the ACE Unit at VGH and can tolerate brief physical tests.
Not a fit: Patients under 65, nonambulatory individuals, or those with end-stage organ failure (for example end-stage COPD, dialysis-dependent renal failure, or end-stage heart failure) are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a low-cost, objective way to monitor frailty and muscle loss during hospital stays and help guide care and discharge planning.
How similar studies have performed: Prior outpatient and community studies have shown that step counts and thigh-worn monitors correlate with frailty and sarcopenia, but their use in acutely hospitalized older adults is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * be 65 years of age or older * be admitted in ACE Unit Exclusion Criteria: * be less than 65 years of age * be nonambulatory * be diagnosed with end-stage organ failure (end-stage COPD, renal failure requiring dialysis, end-stage heart failure)
Where this trial is running
Vancouver, British Columbia
- Gerontology Research Lab, Dept. of Medicine, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, VGH Research Pavilion, Room 186-828 West 10th Avenue — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kenneth Madden, MD — Ubc
- Study coordinator: Boris Feldman
- Email: boris.feldman@vch.ca
- Phone: 604-575-5115
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.