PA Tool to Help People Stay Well by means of urine and saliva analysis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Physical Assessment (PA) Tool to Help People Stay Well by means of urine and saliva analysis
IRAS ID
359982
Contact name
Francis Martin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Everyone progresses differently through life. The same can be said for becoming ill or getting older. Some people live long without disease, while others become ill early in life. The progression of illness varies, independently of age.The problem is no longer getting old but becoming ill and lose quality of life. Medicine has progressed and people are living longer. Clinicians are encountering patients with multiple care needs and health problems independently of their age. When our body and/or mind stop functioning effectively, we may lose our independence in meeting basic needs.
Patients 65 years and older can be classified as frail, as this age group has been subject to investigation. Patients below the age of 65 years can’t, but may still be dependent, hospitalised more frequently and not recover from body stress as the older population. For this study, we will identify and study patients under 65, utilising NICE’s definition of multimorbidity/multiple long-term conditions.
With the use of spectroscopy, this study aims to analyse the saliva and urine of patients aged 45 years and over with multimorbidity or frailty (classification dependent on age as above). Spectroscopy involves shining intense light on the sample provided and reporting the data in the form of waves. From previous research, we know that these waves are unique and stable, much like our fingerprints, allowing for early diagnosis of diseases as well as monitoring their progression over time. The data obtained provides a multitude of information from one analysis, unlike individual sample tests such as for cholesterol or diabetes.
Adopting this non-invasive method for patients with frailty or long-term conditions, the data obtained will indicate whether we can predict physical deterioration, allowing early intervention. This method may improve the quality of life and reduce the burden on healthcare systems by enabling early management before deterioration occurs.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0737
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion