Influence of Sarcopenia on the Course of Diseases Measured Using Ultrasound and Biochemical Markers

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating sarcopenia, a type of frailty involving loss of muscle mass and function, which commonly affects older adults and patients with serious illnesses like cancer, liver cirrhosis, and those in intensive care. This study aims to better predict patient outcomes by using ultrasound and blood markers to measure muscle health, as current methods like CT scans are complex and costly. Understanding sarcopenia's role could improve assessments of prognosis and quality of life across these conditions. The study uses ultrasound to measure muscle size and quality at the bedside, focusing on thigh and psoas muscles. Blood tests will also assess muscle-related biomarkers such as activin A/B and myostatin to explore simpler diagnostic tools. These methods are being evaluated to see if they can provide reliable information about muscle health and patient fitness in different diseases without needing expensive imaging. Participants will be monitored for complications like hospitalizations or death over up to two years from enrollment. The study collects ultrasound images and blood samples to assess muscle condition, aiming to correlate these findings to patient prognosis and therapy outcomes. This observational study involves patients with gastrointestinal tumors, liver cirrhosis, or those in intensive care, lasting from 2024 until 2028, with ongoing assessments to understand sarcopenia's impact in clinical care.

Influence of Sarcopenia on the Course of the Diseases