Sarcopenia Screening in Advanced Coxarthrosis: The SARCO-COX Study

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Intensive Physical Rehabilitation: Participants with sarcopenia assigned to the intervention group will undergo a supervised group physical rehabilitation program starting 6 months after total hip arthroplasty. The program consists of 1-hour sessions conducted twice weekly for 2 months and includes warm-up stretching exercises (10 minutes), 30 minutes of aerobic cycling, 15 minutes of upper and lower limb strengthening exercises, and a 5-minute cool-down with stretching and relaxation.

Preoperative Sarcopenia Screening: Participants will undergo preoperative screening for sarcopenia using the SARC-F questionnaire, handgrip strength measured by dynamometry, gait speed, and skeletal muscle index assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis to identify sarcopenia before elective total hip arthroplasty.

Study summary

The SARCO-COX study evaluates whether screening for sarcopenia (loss of muscle strength and mass) in adults aged 65 years or older with advanced hip osteoarthritis, followed by a structured postoperative exercise program, improves recovery after total hip replacement surgery compared with standard care.

Participants will undergo assessments of muscle strength, muscle mass, physical function, pain, and quality of life before surgery and during follow-up. Blood samples and a small muscle biopsy obtained during the planned surgery will be analyzed to study biomarkers related to muscle health.

A total of 150 people are expected to participate in this study. Participants will be divided into three groups:

* Group 1: People with sarcopenia who will take part in an exercise programme following surgery.
* Group 2: People with sarcopenia who will receive the usual care and follow-up after their surgery.
* Group 3: people without sarcopenia who are undergoing surgery and will receive the usual care and follow-up.

The study aims to determine whether early identification and targeted rehabilitation of sarcopenia can improve functional outcomes and quality of life after hip replacement.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Manual Grip Strength — Baseline (3 months pre-surgery), 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months post-surgery.
  Upper body isometric muscle strength assessed using a calibrated handgrip dynamometer following a standardized protocol.
• Skeletal Muscle Mass Index (SMI) — Baseline (3 months pre-surgery), 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months post-surgery.
  Ratio of appendicular skeletal muscle mass to height squared, estimated via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).

Trial sites (1)

More Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Investigación de Málaga en Biomedicina y Salud trials in Spain

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