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Sarcopenia in ElderlyNCT07127692

Prevalence of Sarcopenia-Promoting Medicines in Patients With Sarcopenia and Falls

An observational study of Sarcopenia in Elderly and Falls, run by Medway NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Sarcopenia, characterised by the loss of muscle mass and function, is a common condition among the elderly and is often associated with increased risk of falls. Certain medications, such as glucocorticoids, statins, and some antipsychotics, may exacerbate sarcopenia, leading to a higher incidence of falls. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Sarcopenia in Elderly, Falls
What is being tested?
Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire, Hand grip strength and Timed Up and Go test
How many people
100 participants
Where
1 siteUnited Kingdom
Study dates
4 Sep 2025to Apr 2027
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 65 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Older adult

Study population: The study will be conducted in a multidisciplinary falls clinic at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, based in Gillingham, Kent, England, UK. This secondary care setting receives referrals primarily from inpatient hospital teams and primary care practitioners. The clinic routinely assesses older adults who have experienced falls or are at high risk of falling, and conducts comprehensive geriatric assessments, including medication reviews, functional status evaluations, and frailty assessments.

Who may be able to join

  • Aged ≥65 years
  • Attendance at the falls clinic for a new assessment
  • Diagnosed with sarcopenia (based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria)
  • History of falls in the past 12 months

Who cannot join

  • Cognitive impairment preventing consent
  • Acute medical instability
  • Enrolled in on other clinical trials.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United Kingdom1 site

  • Medway NHS Foundation Trust

    Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5NY

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Exploratory Study on the Prevalence of Sarcopenia-Promoting Medicines in Patients With Sarcopenia and Falls

Sarcopenia, characterised by the loss of muscle mass and function, is a common condition among the elderly and is often associated with increased risk of falls. Certain medications, such as glucocorticoids, statins, and some antipsychotics, may exacerbate sarcopenia, leading to a higher incidence of falls. This study aims to explore the prevalence of such medicines in patients diagnosed with sarcopenia who have experienced falls. Understanding the impact of these medications on sarcopenia and fall risk can inform clinical guidelines and improve patient outcomes.

Read the detailed description

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is a recognised contributor to frailty, disability, and increased fall risk in older adults. While physical inactivity and comorbidities are known risk factors, increasing evidence suggests that certain medications - including corticosteroids, sedatives and statins - may also contribute to muscle decline. These medicines are frequently prescribed to older adults, but the extent of their use in patients with sarcopenia and falls remains poorly defined.

Falls clinics manage high-risk patients, yet there is currently limited research examining the prevalence of sarcopenia-promoting medications in this specific setting. This study addresses an important knowledge gap by estimating the prevalence of these medicines in older adults attending a secondary care falls clinic, and by exploring associations with sarcopenia and fall history.

The findings will support a better understanding of medication-related risk factors for sarcopenia and may help guide future deprescribing and medication review strategies. This aligns with current priorities in geriatric medicine to reduce inappropriate polypharmacy and improve outcomes for older adults through targeted, evidence-based prescribing.

Being tested
Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire, Hand grip strength, Timed Up and Go test, Gait speed, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS)
Keywords
Sarcopenia-promoting medicines, Sarcopenia, Falls, Medicines in elderly
Medical subject headings
Sarcopenia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaireDiagnostic test

    Self-administered screening tool for sarcopenia

  • Hand grip strengthDiagnostic test

    Used to assess sarcopenia

  • Timed Up and Go testDiagnostic test

    Screening test for falls in elderly

  • Gait speedDiagnostic test

    Assessment to check for functional mobility and risk of falls.

  • Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS)Diagnostic test

    Used to assess level of frailty.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Prevalence of exposure to one or more sarcopenia-promoting medication

    Proportion of adults aged 65 years and over attending the falls clinic who are prescribed one or more sarcopenia-promoting medication. Unit of measure: % of participants.

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (7)

  1. Distribution of sarcopenia-promoting medication classes

    Proportion of participants exposed to each medication class. Unit of measure: % of participants per medication class.

    Measured: 6 months

  2. Number of sarcopenia-promoting medications per participant

    Mean number of eligible medications prescribed per participant. Unit of measure: count.

    Measured: 6 months

  3. Handgrip strength

    Mean maximum grip strength measured with a Jamar dynamometer. Unit of Measure: Kilograms (kg).

    Measured: 6 months

  4. Gait speed

    Mean walking speed measured over 4 metres. Unit of measure: metres per second (m/s)

    Measured: 6 months

  5. SARC-F score

    SARC-F mean score. Unit of measure: points (0-10)

    Measured: 6 months

  6. Timed Up and Go Test

    Mean time taken to stand from a chair, walk 3 metres, turn, walk back and sit down. Unit of measure: Seconds (s).

    Measured: 6 months

  7. Association between medication burden and functional performance

    Comparison of grip strength, gait speed, SARC-F scores and Timed Up and Go performance across groups defined by medication burden e.g. 0-1 vs >2 sarcopenia promoting medications. Units of measure: Differences in mean values (kg, m/s, points, seconds).

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Aug 2025
  2. Study start4 Sep 2025
  3. Primary completionFeb 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionApr 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case only
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrolment
100 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07127692
Sponsor's protocol ID
354863
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
10 Aug 2025
Last updated
16 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Zia A, Kamaruzzaman SB, Tan MP. Polypharmacy and falls in older people: Balancing evidence-based medicine against falls risk. Postgrad Med. 2015 Apr;127(3):330-7. doi: 10.1080/00325481.2014.996112. Epub 2014 Dec 24.

    PubMed 25539567

  • Veronese N, Stubbs B, Noale M, Solmi M, Pilotto A, Vaona A, Demurtas J, Mueller C, Huntley J, Crepaldi G, Maggi S. Polypharmacy Is Associated With Higher Frailty Risk in Older People: An 8-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017 Jul 1;18(7):624-628. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.02.009. Epub 2017 Apr 7.

    PubMed 28396180

  • Tanskanen, A., et al. (2015). Anticholinergic burden and physical functioning in older people: A systematic review. Drugs & Aging, 32(10), 741-750.

  • Shafiee G, Keshtkar A, Soltani A, Ahadi Z, Larijani B, Heshmat R. Prevalence of sarcopenia in the world: a systematic review and meta- analysis of general population studies. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2017 May 16;16:21. doi: 10.1186/s40200-017-0302-x. eCollection 2017.

    PubMed 28523252

  • Scott, D., et al. (2016). Sarcopenia and statin use: A potential link? Drugs & Aging, 33(1), 1-9.

  • Reeve E, Wiese MD, Hendrix I, et al. (2014). The impact of deprescribing interventions on polypharmacy and clinical outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 15(3):131-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2013.11.008

  • Rawle MJ, Westbury LD, Russell S, et al (2018). Anticholinergic drug burden and cognitive function in people aged 50 years and older: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Age Ageing; 47(4):505-11 https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy026

  • Landi, F., et al. (2019). Polypharmacy and sarcopenia in older adults: A population-based study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 20(5), 600-604.e7.

  • Landi F, Liperoti R, Russo A, Giovannini S, Tosato M, Capoluongo E, Bernabei R, Onder G. Sarcopenia as a risk factor for falls in elderly individuals: results from the ilSIRENTE study. Clin Nutr. 2012 Oct;31(5):652-8. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2012.02.007. Epub 2012 Mar 11.

    PubMed 22414775

  • Fox C, Richardson K, Maidment ID, Savva GM, Matthews FE, Smithard D, Coulton S, Katona C, Boustani MA, Brayne C. Anticholinergic medication use and cognitive impairment in the older population: the medical research council cognitive function and ageing study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Aug;59(8):1477-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03491.x. Epub 2011 Jun 24.

    PubMed 21707557

  • Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyere O, Cederholm T, Cooper C, Landi F, Rolland Y, Sayer AA, Schneider SM, Sieber CC, Topinkova E, Vandewoude M, Visser M, Zamboni M; Writing Group for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), and the Extended Group for EWGSOP2. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019 Jul 1;48(4):601. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afz046. No abstract available.

    PubMed 31081853

  • Corsonello A, Pedone C, Incalzi RA. Age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes and related risk of adverse drug reactions. Curr Med Chem. 2010;17(6):571-84. doi: 10.2174/092986710790416326.

    PubMed 20015034

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Sarcopenia in Elderly and Falls, run by Medway NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Prevalence of exposure to one or more sarcopenia-promoting medication (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07127692, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Jun 2026.

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