Investigation of the Prevalence of Sarcopenia and Dynapenia According to Disease Stage in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Evaluation of the Relationship Between Sarcopenia Severity and Clinical and Functional Parameters (MS-Sarcopenia)

September 21, 2026 updated by: Süleyman Korkusuz, Atılım University

This cross-sectional observational study aims to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and dynapenia across disability stages in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and investigate their associations with clinical and functional parameters. Approximately 150 patients will be classified into two groups according to their Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores: mild disability (EDSS < 4.0) and moderate disability (EDSS 4.0-6.5). Sarcopenia and dynapenia will be assessed using the ISarcoPRM algorithm. Physical activity, fatigue, and functional independence will also be evaluated.

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

Participants will undergo assessments of handgrip strength, five-times sit-to-stand performance, and ultrasound-based muscle mass using the Sonographic Thigh Adjustment Ratio (STAR). Sarcopenia and dynapenia will be classified according to the ISarcoPRM algorithm. Additional assessments will include the SARC-F questionnaire, smartwatch-derived physical activity, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Barthel Index. The prevalence of sarcopenia and dynapenia will be compared between disability groups, and associations with clinical and functional parameters will be examined.

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.
150

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

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

18 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Approximately 150 adults diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving care at the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Unit of Başkent University Hospital. Participants will be classified into mild (EDSS <4.0) and moderate (EDSS 4.0-6.5) disability groups.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 18 years or older.
  • Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) by a neurologist.
  • Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) score ≥24.
  • Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤6.5.
  • Willing to participate and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Orthopedic surgery within the previous 3 months.
  • Botulinum toxin injection within the previous 3 months.
  • Severe cognitive impairment affecting the ability to complete assessments.
  • Severe cardiopulmonary disease.
  • Serious orthopedic or additional neurological conditions that may affect the assessments.
  • Severe pain (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] score >7).

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

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: CROSS_SECTIONAL

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.
Mild Disability MS

Patients with multiple sclerosis with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score below 4.0.
Moderate Disability MS

Patients with multiple sclerosis with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 4.0 and 6.5.

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
Prevalence of Sarcopenia
Time Frame: Baseline

Sarcopenia will be classified using the ISarcoPRM algorithm based on low muscle mass (STAR) combined with reduced handgrip strength and/or physical performance. Prevalence will be calculated as the percentage of participants meeting the criteria in each EDSS group.
Baseline
Prevalence of Dynapenia
Time Frame: Baseline

Dynapenia will be defined as reduced muscle strength, independently of muscle mass, based on low handgrip strength (<32 kg for men; <19 kg for women) and/or prolonged five-times sit-to-stand time (≥12 seconds). Prevalence will be calculated as the percentage of participants meeting the criteria in each EDSS group.
Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Handgrip Strength
Time Frame: Baseline

Handgrip strength will be measured using a calibrated hand dynamometer. The highest value from at least two trials will be recorded in kilograms (kg).
Baseline
Five-Times Sit-to-Stand Test
Time Frame: Baseline

Participants will be asked to stand up and sit down five times without using their arms. Completion time will be recorded in seconds. A duration of 12 seconds or longer will indicate reduced physical performance.
Baseline
Sonographic Thigh Adjustment Ratio (STAR)
Time Frame: Baseline

Anterior thigh muscle thickness will be assessed using ultrasonography and adjusted for body mass index to calculate STAR. Low muscle mass will be defined as STAR <1.0 in women and <1.4 in men.
Baseline
Sarcopenia Risk (SARC-F)
Time Frame: Baseline

Sarcopenia risk will be assessed using the five-item SARC-F questionnaire. Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater risk. A score of 4 or higher indicates sarcopenia risk.
Baseline
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS)
Time Frame: Baseline

Fatigue will be assessed using the 21-item MFIS. Total scores range from 0 to 84, with higher scores indicating a greater impact of fatigue on daily functioning.
Baseline
Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
Time Frame: Baseline

Functional independence will be assessed using the 18-item FIM. Total scores range from 18 to 126, with higher scores indicating greater independence in daily activities.
Baseline
Barthel Index
Time Frame: Baseline

Independence in activities of daily living will be assessed using the Barthel Index. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater functional independence.
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.
Atılım University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Baskent University Ankara Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Ayşenur Özcan, Çankırı Karatekin University
  • Principal Investigator: Büşra Seçkinoğulları Korkusuz, PhD, Ankara University
  • Study Chair: Süleyman Korkusuz, Atılım University
  • Study Chair: Ali M Özcan, Baskent University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 10, 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.
December 10, 2026

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.
December 20, 2026

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).
September 21, 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.
September 21, 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.
September 25, 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.
September 25, 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.
September 21, 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.
September 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.
  • E-59394181-100-137243

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings