OsteosarcopeniaNCT06889415

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteosarcopenia: Associated Factors

An observational study of Osteosarcopenia and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), run by Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

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Trial summary

Who is it for?: Ages 50 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for: Osteosarcopenia, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sarcopenia
What is being tested?: Osteosarcopenia in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
How many people: 201 participants
Where: 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates: 15 Aug 2023to 30 Nov 2025
How long will I take part?: 1 Day
Phase: Observational
Are there results?: None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 50 years and older
All sexes
Healthy volunteers accepted
Adult, Older adult

Study population: The study will include consecutively 100 patients with RA aged 50 and over, who have been diagnosed according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria (who have visited the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Rheumatology outpatient clinics) and 100 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects.

Who may be able to join

Being diagnosed with RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria
Being a female or male over the age of 50
Having the mental and physical capacity to complete the study questionnaires and tests
Providing voluntary consent to participate in the study by signing the Informed Consent Form

Who cannot join

Having an acute illness/disability or significant cognitive impairment that prevents understanding and performing the required tests
Having thyroid or parathyroid disease, uncontrolled diabetes, Cushing's syndrome, anemia.
History of malignancy
Severe cardiovascular disease, enal failure, advanced-stage COPD, decompensated liver disease
History of gastrointestinal (GIS) surgery
7-Having another coexisting autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic disease (e.g., SLE, Ankylosing Spondylitis, etc.), psoriatic arthritis, vasculitis, familial Mediterranean fever...)

Show all 16Show fewer

8-Having severe/symptomatic hand osteoarthritis and/or deformities
9-Severe/symptomatic osteoarthritis in the knee, lumbar, hip, or ankle region
10-Having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain, lateral epicondylitis, cubital tunnel syndrome or a history of traumatic hand injury
11-Having a significant neurological disease, stroke, MS, myopathy, Parkinson's disease, radiculopathy/polyneuropathy/brachial plexopathy or others nerve root compressions
12-History of surgical intervention on the upper and lower extremities or spine
13-Having severe kyphosis or scoliosis
14-Having any others disease causing balance disorders (neurological, orthopedic, metabolic, etc.)
15-Having a major/significant psychiatric disorder (based on the medical history, and hospital records)
16-Current use of androgens or estrogens
17-Having prostheses, being fully dependent, or immobilized

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site

Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic
Konya, Selçuklu, 42000

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: The Frequency of Osteosarcopenia in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Factors Affecting the Sarcopenia-osteoporosis Relationship

Our study is a cross-sectional study, and its aim is to compare and analyze the prevalence of sarcopenia and osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a control group and to reveal the impact of sarcopenia on osteoporosis, fall risk, and fracture risk. This prospective cross-sectional study will include 100 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 100 healthy controls, matched for age and sex. Patients will be consecutively and meticulously enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

A detailed medical history and examination will be performed on the patients, and their clinical and sociodemographic characteristics will be recorded. Blood tests for RA (RF, Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (anti-CCP), CRP, ESR) and disease activity levels (DAS28) will be recorded. The prevalence of osteosarcopenia will be assessed in both the RA and healthy control groups.These groups will be evaluated using various scales and tests (including power, performance tests) including musculoskeletal ultrasonographic measurements and clinical functional assessment tests. he sarcopenic group will be categorized based on the level of sarcopenia, according to the new ISarcoPRM criteria (non-sarcopenic, dynapenic, sarcopenic, and severe sarcopenic). Osteosarcopenia will be evaluated for both groups, and the collected data will be analyzed with primary and secondary outcomes. The analysis will explore the potential relationships between rheumatoid inflammation, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis.

Read the detailed description

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory joint disease that affects 5 out of 1,000 adults worldwide. The disease affects women 2 to 3 times more frequently than men and can occur at any age. The most common period for its onset is typically in the sixth decade (late 50s to 60s). In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, sarcopenia and osteopenia-osteoporosis are two commonly observed clinical conditions. Osteoporosis has been reported to be approximately twice as common in RA patients compared to the general population. The prevalence of osteoporosis in RA patients ranges from 6.3% to 36.3% in the hip region and from 12.3% to 38.9% in the spine region. Additionally, the prevalence of sarcopenia in RA patients is 21%.

Osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia are two commonly observed conditions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Various factors increase the risk of sarcopenia in RA. These include reduced physical activity, increased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, elevated energy expenditure at rest, increased CRP levels, and secondary immobility resulting from joint pain and stiffness.

Chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to increase osteoclast differentiation and suppress the osteogenesis process. In RA patients, the presence of antibodies against OPG, which inhibits RANKL, has been detected. Additionally, levels of Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1), which inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway, have been shown to be higher in the serum of RA patients compared to healthy controls. The prevalence of osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients has been reported to be more than twice that of the general population. For these reasons, the detection and prevention of osteosarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be considered an important comorbidity.

Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by the progressive and general loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, carrying the risk of negative outcomes such as physical disability, low quality of life, and death. Although sarcopenia is typically associated with elderly individuals, it can also occur in younger individuals due to various diseases or conditions. Since its prevalence is higher in older adults compared to other age groups, it can also be referred to as a geriatric syndrome.

Various imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioimpedance analysis, and ultrasound can be used to determine muscle mass in the diagnosis of sarcopenia.

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and a deterioration of the structural integrity of bone tissue, which increases bone fragility and creates a risk of fractures. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines osteoporosis through measurements made using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). According to this definition, the T-score in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, or distal third of the radius is evaluated as follows: T-score ≥ -1.0 is normal, between -1.0 and -2.5 is osteopenia, and T-score ≤ -2.5 is considered osteoporosis. Additionally, if the T-score is below -2.5 and one or more osteoporotic fractures are present, this condition is referred to as established osteoporosis.

Sarcopenia is evaluated based on specific criteria. Although the information may change over time, it is important to consider muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance when diagnosing sarcopenia today.

Recently, the STAR study has been published, emphasizing the importance of regional muscle mass measurements in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. The study showed that the thickness of the anterior thigh muscle is the parameter that decreases the most with aging, and this measurement has a stronger correlation with height and BMI. In this regard, it is recommended to use the STAR value, obtained by dividing the anterior thigh muscle thickness measured by ultrasound by BMI, in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. The STAR threshold value has been set as <1.0 for women and <1.4 for men.

The formula is:

STAR = Anterior thigh muscle thickness (mm) / Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m²)

International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, ISPRM (2021) has published a new sarcopenia diagnostic algorithm, which also includes the STAR study and ISarcoPRM recommends screening for all older adults and adults with RAS-associated disorders.

ISarcoPRM has set cut-off values of ≥12 seconds for the sit-to-stand test and <32 kg for grip strength in men and <19 kg in women to identify low muscle function. Initially, both tests are recommended. If low values are detected in either of these tests, the patient is considered to have "probable sarcopenia."

In individuals diagnosed with probable sarcopenia, it is recommended to measure the anterior thigh muscle thickness using ultrasound and calculate the STAR value. If the STAR value is below the threshold level determined by gender, the individual is classified as having "sarcopenia." Additionally, if the walking speed is ≤ 0.8 m/s and/or the individual cannot rise from a chair without support, this condition is defined as "severe sarcopenia."

If at least one of the patient's muscle function tests is low but the STAR value is normal, the patient is considered to have "dynapenia.

In our study, in addition to anterior thigh thickness, Achilles tendon thickness will also be measured. There is insufficient research explaining the relationship between Achilles tendon thickness and sarcopenia or osteoporosis. In this study, we will also investigate whether there is a relationship between Achilles tendon thickness and sarcopenia and/or osteoporosis.

There are few studies examining the relationship between RA, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia with heterogeneous methodologie. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of osteosarcopenia in RA patients and control groups, and to investigate the impact of sarcopenia, along with the effects of inflammation, on osteoporosis, fall, and fracture risk. By evaluating sarcopenia according to the ISarcoPRM criteria, the study aims to address the gap in the literature with a unique and robust original methodologies.

Conditions: Osteosarcopenia, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sarcopenia
Being tested: Osteosarcopenia in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteosarcopenia in Healthy Control Group
Keywords: osteosarcopenia, sarcopenia, Ultrasonography, rheumatoid arthritis
Medical subject headings: Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Sarcopenia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Osteosarcopenia in Patients with Rheumatoid ArthritisDiagnostic test
The prevalence of osteosarcopenia will be examined in this group. Sarcopenia will be categorized into 4 groups. Both the prevalence of osteosarcopenia and the subgroups of sarcopenia will be compared with the healthy control group. Through this comparison, we will explain the relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis, the factors affecting this relationship, and the changes in fall and fracture risk using various questionnaires and tests.
Osteosarcopenia in Healthy Control GroupDiagnostic test
The prevalence of osteosarcopenia will be examined in this group. Sarcopenia will be categorized into 4 groups. The relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis, the factors affecting this relationship, and the risk of falls and fractures will be evaluated using various questionnaires and tests.

Study groups in NCT06889415
Study group	Role	What they receive
rheumatoid arthritis grups		It includes females and males over the age of 50 who meet the RA diagnostic criteria according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria. Receives: Diagnostic Test: Osteosarcopenia in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
healty control grups		It includes females and males over the age of 50 who do not meet the exclusion criteria. Receives: Diagnostic Test: Osteosarcopenia in Healthy Control Group

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Sarcopenia assessment
According to the ISarcoPRM (2021) diagnostic algorithm and the reference values based on its threshold, participants were categorized into sarcopenia groups (no sarcopenia, dynapenia, sarcopenia, severe sarcopenia).
Measured: baseline
Osteoporosis assessment/dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements will be reviewed. In the lumbar spine, femoral neck, or total femur; a T score ≥ -1.0 is considered normal, -1 > T score > -2.5 is osteopenia, and T score ≤ -2.5 is defined as osteoporosis.
Measured: baseline
Balance and Gait Assessment Scale
This scale is an important tool to evaluate the individual's functional status and daily living activities. The scale consists of a maximum of 16 points for balance and a maximum of 12 points for walking, for a total of 28 points. Individuals who score 26 or below on the scale are thought to have a problem; For those with scores of 19 or below, it is observed that the risk of self-falling increases fivefold compared to normal individuals.
Measured: baseline

Secondary outcomes (8)

Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX)
The Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) will be calculated using the Turkish population version. The World Health Organization developed this web-based scoring system to assess the 10-year risk of hip fractures or major osteoporotic fractures based on fracture risk factors. According to the FRAX scoring system, treatment is recommended when the major osteoporotic fracture risk is 20% or higher, and the 10-year hip fracture risk is 3% or above.
Measured: baseline
Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ
It can assess RA patients in all dimensions, such as disability and discomfort. It includes sections that evaluate disability with 20 questions, pain with one question, and global health status with one question. The disability index includes 8 areas that assess dressing and self-care, getting up, eating, walking, hygiene, reaching, grasping, and normal daily activities. Each section is scored individually, and the average of the 8 sections is recorded. This survey score ranges from 0 to 3. As the score increases, the health condition worsens.
Measured: baseline
Handgrip Strength Test
According to the protocol recommended by the American Society of Hand Therapists in 1992, measurements will be taken while patients are seated, with the shoulder in neutral rotation and adduction, the elbow at 90° flexion, the forearm in a neutral position, and the wrist in 30 degrees of dorsiflexion. Patients will be instructed to squeeze the dynamometer with all their strength using similar words and tone. Grip strength will be measured for both hands. Measurements will be taken three times with 1-minute rest intervals, and the maximum value will be recorded. According to the ISarcoPRM (2021) diagnostic algorithm, values below <32 kg for men and <19 kg for women will be considered as reduced muscle strength.
Measured: baseline
chair rise test
The five-time chair rise test is a measure used to assess lower extremity muscle strength. The patient will be asked to cross their arms over their chest and sit down and stand up from the chair five times as quickly as possible, with the time being recorded. If the time exceeds 12 seconds, it will be considered a reduction in muscle strength.
Measured: baseline
Anterior Thigh Muscle Thickness Measurement
Participants will be evaluated while lying in a supine position, with their arms and legs extended and muscles relaxed. The measurement region will be selected as the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper pole of the patella. The ultrasound probe will be positioned in the axial plane at a 90-degree angle to the muscle extension. During imaging, measurements will be taken with a generous amount of gel applied, without any compression. The anterior thigh muscle thickness will be determined as the total thickness of the rectus femoris and vastus intermedius muscles, and the distance between the outer fascia of the rectus femoris and the femur periosteum will be used as the reference. Measurements will be repeated three times, and the average value will be recorded in mm. The noted muscle thickness will be divided by the participant's BMI to calculate the STAR value.
Measured: baseline
6-meter Walking Test
The patient will be asked to walk a 6-meter distance at their normal walking speed, as in daily life. The time taken to complete the 6 meters will be recorded in seconds. The 6-meter walking speed will be calculated in meters per second (m/s), and speeds below 0.8 m/s will be considered as low walking speed.
Measured: baseline
Achilles tendon thickness measurement
There is insufficient research explaining the relationship between Achilles tendon thickness and sarcopenia and osteoporosis. In this study, we will also examine whether there is a relationship between Achilles tendon thickness and sarcopenia and/or osteoporosis.
Participants will lie in a prone position with their feet hanging off the examination table. The tendon thickness will be measured axially (at the thickest point between the epitenons) at the level of the lateral malleolus.
Measured: baseline
VAS pain (pain intensity)
A horizontal visual analog scale (VAS) will be used to assess the participants' pain levels. A 10 cm long line will be drawn on a blank paper, with the left end marked as "0" (no pain) and the right end marked as "10" (unbearable pain). Participants will be asked to indicate the intensity of their pain by marking an appropriate point on this line.
Measured: baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

15 Aug 202330 Nov 2025

First posted21 Mar 2025
Study start15 Aug 2023
Primary completion30 Nov 2025
Study completion30 Nov 2025

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Publications (18)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
Other trials for OsteosarcopeniaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Observational
Observational model: Ecologic or community
Time perspective: Cross-sectional
Enrolment: 201 participants (actual)
Target duration: 1 Day

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06889415
Sponsor's protocol ID: KBEAH-FTR-İK-01
Status last verified: Mar 2025
First submitted: 3 Mar 2025
Last updated: 5 Oct 2026
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No

Publications

Kucukdeveci AA, Sahin H, Ataman S, Griffiths B, Tennant A. Issues in cross-cultural validity: example from the adaptation, reliability, and validity testing of a Turkish version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Feb 15;51(1):14-9. doi: 10.1002/art.20091.
PubMed 14872450
Çifçili S, Ünalan PC. Yaşlılarda fonksiyonel kayıplara yaklaşım. Turkish Journal of Family Practice. 2004;8(4):166-73
Ozcakar L, Kara M, Chang KV, Bayram Carli A, Hung CY, Tok F, Wu CH, Akkaya N, Hsiao MY, Tekin L, Wang TG, Ulasli AM, Chen WS, De Muynck M. EURO-MUSCULUS/USPRM. Basic Scanning Protocols for Ankle and foot. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2015 Oct;51(5):647-53. Epub 2015 Sep 8.
PubMed 26351106
Chiu YH, Liao CL, Chien YH, Wu CH, Ozcakar L. Sonographic evaluations of the skeletal muscles in patients with Pompe disease. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2023 Jan;42:22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.12.002. Epub 2022 Dec 6.
PubMed 36508847
van Riel PL, Renskers L. The Disease Activity Score (DAS) and the Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts (DAS28) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2016 Sep-Oct;34(5 Suppl 101):S40-S44. Epub 2016 Oct 18.
PubMed 27762189
Pinheiro PA, Passos TD, Coqueiro Rda S, Fernandes MH, Barbosa AR. [Motor performance of the elderly in northeast Brazil: differences with age and sex]. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2013 Feb;47(1):128-36. doi: 10.1590/s0080-62342013000100016. Portuguese.
PubMed 23515812
Maggio M, Ceda GP, Ticinesi A, De Vita F, Gelmini G, Costantino C, Meschi T, Kressig RW, Cesari M, Fabi M, Lauretani F. Instrumental and Non-Instrumental Evaluation of 4-Meter Walking Speed in Older Individuals. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 14;11(4):e0153583. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153583. eCollection 2016.
PubMed 27077744
Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyere O, Cederholm T, Cooper C, Landi F, Rolland Y, Sayer AA, Schneider SM, Sieber CC, Topinkova E, Vandewoude M, Visser M, Zamboni M; Writing Group for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), and the Extended Group for EWGSOP2. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019 Jan 1;48(1):16-31. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afy169.
PubMed 30312372
Kara M, Kaymak B, Frontera W, Ata AM, Ricci V, Ekiz T, Chang KV, Han DS, Michail X, Quittan M, Lim JY, Bean JF, Franchignoni F, Ozcakar L. Diagnosing sarcopenia: Functional perspectives and a new algorithm from the ISarcoPRM. J Rehabil Med. 2021 Jun 21;53(6):jrm00209. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2851.
PubMed 34121127
Kara M, Kaymak B, Ata AM, Ozkal O, Kara O, Baki A, Sengul Aycicek G, Topuz S, Karahan S, Soylu AR, Cakir B, Halil M, Ozcakar L. STAR-Sonographic Thigh Adjustment Ratio: A Golden Formula for the Diagnosis of Sarcopenia. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Oct;99(10):902-908. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001439.
PubMed 32941253
Adami G, Saag KG. Osteoporosis Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, and Screening in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2019 May 23;21(7):34. doi: 10.1007/s11926-019-0836-7.
PubMed 31123839
Torii M, Hashimoto M, Hanai A, Fujii T, Furu M, Ito H, Uozumi R, Hamaguchi M, Terao C, Yamamoto W, Uda M, Nin K, Morita S, Arai H, Mimori T. Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Mod Rheumatol. 2019 Jul;29(4):589-595. doi: 10.1080/14397595.2018.1510565. Epub 2018 Sep 11.
PubMed 30092163
Kanis JA. Diagnosis of osteoporosis and assessment of fracture risk. Lancet. 2002 Jun 1;359(9321):1929-36. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08761-5.
PubMed 12057569
Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Landi F, Schneider SM, Zuniga C, Arai H, Boirie Y, Chen LK, Fielding RA, Martin FC, Michel JP, Sieber C, Stout JR, Studenski SA, Vellas B, Woo J, Zamboni M, Cederholm T. Prevalence of and interventions for sarcopenia in ageing adults: a systematic review. Report of the International Sarcopenia Initiative (EWGSOP and IWGS). Age Ageing. 2014 Nov;43(6):748-59. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afu115. Epub 2014 Sep 21.
PubMed 25241753
Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, Boirie Y, Cederholm T, Landi F, Martin FC, Michel JP, Rolland Y, Schneider SM, Topinkova E, Vandewoude M, Zamboni M; European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010 Jul;39(4):412-23. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afq034. Epub 2010 Apr 13.
PubMed 20392703

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

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Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: The Frequency of Osteosarcopenia in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Factors Affecting the Sarcopenia-osteoporosis Relationship
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06889415
Acronym / sponsor ID: KBEAH-FTR-İK-01
Conditions: Osteosarcopenia, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sarcopenia
Keywords: osteosarcopenia, sarcopenia, Ultrasonography, rheumatoid arthritis
Study type: Observational
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 201 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Konya Beyhekim Training and Research HospitalOther government
Study start: 15 Aug 2023 (actual)
Primary completion: 30 Nov 2025 (actual)
Study completion: 30 Nov 2025 (actual)
First posted: 21 Mar 2025 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Detailed description

The formula is:

STAR = Anterior thigh muscle thickness (mm) / Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m²)

If at least one of the patient's muscle function tests is low but the STAR value is normal, the patient is considered to have "dynapenia.

Study design

Observational model: Ecologic or community
Time perspective: Cross-sectional
Target follow-up: 1 Day
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
rheumatoid arthritis grups	–	Diagnostic Test: Osteosarcopenia in Patients with Rheumatoid ArthritisIt includes females and males over the age of 50 who meet the RA diagnostic criteria according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria.
healty control grups	–	Diagnostic Test: Osteosarcopenia in Healthy Control GroupIt includes females and males over the age of 50 who do not meet the exclusion criteria.

Who may qualify

Ages: 50 years and older
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Accepted
Age groups: Adult, Older adult
Study population: The study will include consecutively 100 patients with RA aged 50 and over, who have been diagnosed according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria (who have visited the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Rheumatology outpatient clinics) and 100 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects.

Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)

Being diagnosed with RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria
Being a female or male over the age of 50
Having the mental and physical capacity to complete the study questionnaires and tests
Providing voluntary consent to participate in the study by signing the Informed Consent Form

Key exclusion criteria (16 listed)

Having an acute illness/disability or significant cognitive impairment that prevents understanding and performing the required tests
Having thyroid or parathyroid disease, uncontrolled diabetes, Cushing's syndrome, anemia.
History of malignancy
Severe cardiovascular disease, enal failure, advanced-stage COPD, decompensated liver disease
History of gastrointestinal (GIS) surgery

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
Osteosarcopenia in Patients with Rheumatoid ArthritisThe prevalence of osteosarcopenia will be examined in this group. Sarcopenia will be categorized into 4 groups. Both the prevalence of osteosarcopenia and the subgroups of sarcopenia will be compared with the healthy control group. Through this comparison, we will explain the relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis, the factors affecting this relationship, and the changes in fall and fracture risk using various questionnaires and tests.	Diagnostic test	rheumatoid arthritis grups
Osteosarcopenia in Healthy Control GroupThe prevalence of osteosarcopenia will be examined in this group. Sarcopenia will be categorized into 4 groups. The relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis, the factors affecting this relationship, and the risk of falls and fractures will be evaluated using various questionnaires and tests.	Diagnostic test	healty control grups

Primary outcome

Sarcopenia assessment
Time frame: baseline
According to the ISarcoPRM (2021) diagnostic algorithm and the reference values based on its threshold, participants were categorized into sarcopenia groups (no sarcopenia, dynapenia, sarcopenia, severe sarcopenia).
Osteoporosis assessment/dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
Time frame: baseline
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements will be reviewed. In the lumbar spine, femoral neck, or total femur; a T score ≥ -1.0 is considered normal, -1 > T score > -2.5 is osteopenia, and T score ≤ -2.5 is defined as osteoporosis.
Balance and Gait Assessment Scale
Time frame: baseline
This scale is an important tool to evaluate the individual's functional status and daily living activities. The scale consists of a maximum of 16 points for balance and a maximum of 12 points for walking, for a total of 28 points. Individuals who score 26 or below on the scale are thought to have a problem; For those with scores of 19 or below, it is observed that the risk of self-falling increases fivefold compared to normal individuals.

8 secondary outcomes

Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX)
Time frame: baseline
Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ
Time frame: baseline
Handgrip Strength Test
Time frame: baseline
chair rise test
Time frame: baseline
Anterior Thigh Muscle Thickness Measurement
Time frame: baseline
6-meter Walking Test
Time frame: baseline
Achilles tendon thickness measurement
Time frame: baseline
VAS pain (pain intensity)
Time frame: baseline

Results and safety

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Oct 2026.
Results publication: PubMed 14872450Kucukdeveci AA, Sahin H, Ataman S, Griffiths B, Tennant A. Issues in cross-cultural validity: example from the adaptation, reliability, and validity testing of a Turkish version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Feb 15;51(1):14-9. doi: 10.1002/art.20091.
Results publicationÇifçili S, Ünalan PC. Yaşlılarda fonksiyonel kayıplara yaklaşım. Turkish Journal of Family Practice. 2004;8(4):166-73
Results publication: PubMed 26351106Ozcakar L, Kara M, Chang KV, Bayram Carli A, Hung CY, Tok F, Wu CH, Akkaya N, Hsiao MY, Tekin L, Wang TG, Ulasli AM, Chen WS, De Muynck M. EURO-MUSCULUS/USPRM. Basic Scanning Protocols for Ankle and foot. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2015 Oct;51(5):647-53. Epub 2015 Sep 8.
Results publication: PubMed 36508847Chiu YH, Liao CL, Chien YH, Wu CH, Ozcakar L. Sonographic evaluations of the skeletal muscles in patients with Pompe disease. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2023 Jan;42:22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.12.002. Epub 2022 Dec 6.
Results publication: PubMed 27762189van Riel PL, Renskers L. The Disease Activity Score (DAS) and the Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts (DAS28) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2016 Sep-Oct;34(5 Suppl 101):S40-S44. Epub 2016 Oct 18.
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Results publication: PubMed 27077744Maggio M, Ceda GP, Ticinesi A, De Vita F, Gelmini G, Costantino C, Meschi T, Kressig RW, Cesari M, Fabi M, Lauretani F. Instrumental and Non-Instrumental Evaluation of 4-Meter Walking Speed in Older Individuals. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 14;11(4):e0153583. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153583. eCollection 2016.
Results publication: PubMed 30312372Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, Boirie Y, Bruyere O, Cederholm T, Cooper C, Landi F, Rolland Y, Sayer AA, Schneider SM, Sieber CC, Topinkova E, Vandewoude M, Visser M, Zamboni M; Writing Group for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), and the Extended Group for EWGSOP2. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019 Jan 1;48(1):16-31. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afy169.
Results publication: PubMed 34121127Kara M, Kaymak B, Frontera W, Ata AM, Ricci V, Ekiz T, Chang KV, Han DS, Michail X, Quittan M, Lim JY, Bean JF, Franchignoni F, Ozcakar L. Diagnosing sarcopenia: Functional perspectives and a new algorithm from the ISarcoPRM. J Rehabil Med. 2021 Jun 21;53(6):jrm00209. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2851.
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Individual participant dataSharing planned: No

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Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

İlhan ç KAYA principal investigator

Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Osteosarcopenia and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), run by Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 16 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Sarcopenia assessment (time frame: baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06889415, which also lists 18 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Oct 2026.