Nutritional Risk and Diaphragmatic Thickness in Mechanically Ventilated COPD Patients

August 22, 2026 updated by: Ziad Mohamed Esmail Abdel-Aal, Assiut University

Nutritional Risk Assessment and Diaphragmatic Thickness for Predicting Outcome in Elderly Mechanically Ventilated COPD Patients

Malnutrition and muscle wasting are frequent complications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experiencing acute exacerbations. In critically ill patients who require invasive mechanical ventilation, nutritional depletion and ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction can complicate recovery and prolong intensive care unit (ICU) stays.

The purpose of this prospective observational cohort study is to evaluate nutritional status and diaphragmatic structure in elderly patients (aged 60 years and older) with COPD who require invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours.

Participants will undergo bedside assessments, including:

  • Calculation of clinical risk scores within the first 24 hours of ICU admission: modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II).
  • Anthropometric measurements: mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) measured at baseline, day 7, and the day of weaning.
  • Diaphragmatic ultrasonography: point-of-care ultrasound to measure diaphragm thickness at end-expiration and end-inspiration at baseline, day 7, and during weaning trials.

The main goal is to evaluate the relationship between nutritional risk (assessed by the mNUTRIC score) and diaphragmatic thickness, and to determine how these parameters correlate with clinical outcomes such as weaning success, total duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Malnutrition is a prevalent comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with lower exercise tolerance, decreased pulmonary function, and increased mortality. In the intensive care unit (ICU), acute exacerbations requiring invasive mechanical ventilation frequently lead to accelerated muscle wasting and ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction. Combining bedside clinical risk scoring, peripheral anthropometry, and diaphragmatic ultrasonography provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating nutritional and functional reserve.

Eligible patients aged 60 years or older admitted with acute exacerbations of COPD requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours will be prospectively enrolled.

Clinical and Severity Scoring (Day 1): Within the first 24 hours of admission and ventilation initiation, baseline demographic data, arterial blood gases, and severity scores will be recorded. Scores include the modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC; range 0-9, where ≥ 5 defines high nutritional risk), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA; range 0-24), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II; range 0-71).

Anthropometric Measurements: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) will be performed by a single investigator using a non-stretchable measuring tape recorded to the nearest 0.1 cm. Values will be obtained at baseline (within 24 hours), day 7 (or at extubation/discharge if earlier), and on the day of weaning.

Diaphragmatic Ultrasonography: Bedside point-of-care ultrasound using a high-frequency linear probe (7-13 MHz) will evaluate the diaphragm in the zone of apposition at the 8th-9th intercostal space on the right hemithorax. Diaphragm thickness at end-expiration (Tdi,ee) and end-inspiration (Tdi,pi) will be measured in B-mode/M-mode (averaging three consecutive cycles) at baseline, day 7, and during spontaneous breathing trials/weaning attempts.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
120

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Elderly patients aged 60 years or older with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admitted to the Chest Department and ICU/respiratory ICU at Assiut University Hospital who require invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients aged ≥ 60 years
  • Confirmed diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) according to GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) criteria
  • Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) or respiratory ICU for acute exacerbation of COPD
  • Requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥ 48 hours
  • Provision of informed consent by the patient or a first-degree relative/legal guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pre-existing neuromuscular disease affecting diaphragmatic or peripheral muscle function (e.g., myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, poliomyelitis, motor neuron disease)
  • Known diaphragmatic paralysis or phrenic nerve injury predating admission
  • Severe limb edema, amputation, or lower-limb deformity precluding valid anthropometric measurement
  • Terminal illness or malignancy with an expected survival of < 48 hours
  • Duration of mechanical ventilation < 48 hours, or death/extubation occurring before baseline assessment completion
  • Subcutaneous emphysema or thoracic/abdominal wall pathology precluding adequate diaphragmatic ultrasound acoustic windows

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Mechanically Ventilated Elderly COPD Patients
Adult patients aged 60 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD admitted to the ICU/respiratory ICU for acute exacerbation and requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours. Participants undergo baseline severity scoring (mNUTRIC, SOFA, APACHE II), serial anthropometric assessments (MUAC, calf circumference), and diaphragmatic ultrasonography (diaphragm thickness at end-expiration and end-inspiration) at baseline, day 7, and during spontaneous breathing trials/weaning.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Baseline End-Expiratory Diaphragmatic Thickness
Time Frame: Baseline
Diaphragm thickness measured in millimeters (mm) at end-expiration (Tdi,ee) using B-mode/M-mode bedside ultrasonography in the zone of apposition (8th-9th intercostal space between the anterior and mid-axillary lines). The average of three consecutive measurements will be reported and evaluated in relation to the baseline modified NUTRIC score (scores range from 0 to 9, where scores ≥ 5 indicate high nutritional risk).
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Assiut University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 22, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 26, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 26, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 22, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Nutrition & Diaphragm in COPD

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