Frailty and Muscle Strength Tests in Older Adults Undergoing Major Surgery
Feasibility and Correlation of Functional Muscle Strength Tests and Objective Frailty Measures With Clinical Frailty Scale in Patients Undergoing Major Surgery
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
100 participants
Jun 19, 2025
OBSERVATIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this observational study is to learn if simple tests for frailty and muscle strength can help predict which older adults (age 65 and older) are at higher risk for problems after major abdominal surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do measures of frailty and muscle strength, taken before surgery, predict complications after surgery? * Can these tests be easily done during a routine pre-surgical visit? Participants will: * Complete brief tests measuring muscle strength, breathing strength, physical function, nutrition status, body composition, and memory during a regular pre-surgical clinic appointment. * Allow researchers to review their medical records 30 and 90 days after surgery to identify any complications or health problems.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- Participants may be eligible for this study if they meet the following conditions:
- Age 65 years or older.
- Scheduled for elective (planned, non-emergency) major abdominal surgery, including colorectal, hepatobiliary, gynecologic, or urologic procedures.
- Able to attend a routine preoperative evaluation visit.
- Able and willing to complete brief assessments for muscle strength, walking, breathing strength, memory, and nutrition.
Exclusion Criteria4
- Participants will not be eligible for the study if they have any of the following conditions:
- Surgery is an emergency procedure.
- Unable to walk independently (for example, dependent on a wheelchair or bed-bound).
- Significant cognitive impairment that prevents understanding or completing study tests.
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Interventions
Participants will undergo a structured frailty and muscle-strength assessment battery performed during their routine preoperative evaluation. These assessments serve as the primary exposure measures of interest and include: Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) evaluation (functional frailty assessment) Respiratory muscle strength assessment (Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) using a MicroRPM handheld respiratory pressure meter) Hand-grip strength measurement (using Jamar dynamometer) Physical performance evaluation (Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test) Skeletal muscle mass estimation (Bioelectrical impedance analysis, InBody 120) Muscle thickness measurement (Rectus femoris muscle thickness using portable ultrasound) Cognitive function screening (Mini-Cog test) Nutritional risk screening (Perioperative Nutrition Screen \[PONS\]) No additional interventions beyond these observational assessments will be conducted.
Locations(1)
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NCT06988176