Change in muscle strength in frail older hospitalised patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Changes in Knee Extension Muscle Strength in Frail Older Patients During Hospitalisation, and the Association with Changes in Functional Mobility After Hospitalisation: a Prospective Repeated Measures Cohort Study
IRAS ID
230975
Contact name
Christi Deaton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
HVS/2017/2052, Joint Sponsor - University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
During a period of hospitalisation many older people develop new disability such as loss of muscle strength and mobility. This study aims to investigate the change in muscle strength in frail older patients admitted to hospital, and the relationship to change in mobility after hospitalisation. Specifically, the study will focus on the muscles that straighten the leg at the knee. This study will be used to inform a future study testing the feasibility of an exercise programme designed to improve muscle strength during hospitalisation. This present study will help us decide who we should target with an exercise programme, when the exercise programme should start, the smallest change in muscle strength that has important significance and finally the relationship between change in muscle strength during a hospital admission and the change in mobility ability in the first month after hospitalisation.
The study will recruit 105 patients admitted to the wards of Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. We will take various measurements that we think may predict the risk of developing loss of muscle strength and mobility, such as age, sex, medical conditions, degree of frailty, measures of memory and fear of falling. In addition, on admission to hospital and at discharge (or day 7 of admission if earlier) we will take measures of muscle strength, and mobility. We will repeat the test of muscle strength every day for the first 7 days so as to measure change during the patient’s hospital stay. One month after discharge, a researcher will visit the patient to repeat the measurements of muscle strength and mobility one last time.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1817
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion