Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)NCT07788170
Nutritional Risk and Diaphragmatic Thickness in Mechanically Ventilated COPD Patients
An observational study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, run by Assiut University.
Trial summary
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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Malnutrition
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to Nov 2027
- Phase
- Observational
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 60 years and older
- All sexes
- Adult, Older adult
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.
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- 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
About this study
Official title: 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.
Read more
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Malnutrition, Respiratory Failure, Ventilator-Induced Diaphragmatic Dysfunction
- Keywords
- modified NUTRIC score, Diaphragmatic ultrasound, Diaphragm thickness, Mechanical ventilation, Mid-upper arm circumference, Calf circumference, Sarcopenia, Weaning failure, APACHE II, SOFA score
- Medical subject headings
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Malnutrition, Respiratory Insufficiency, Sarcopenia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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 being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Baseline End-Expiratory Diaphragmatic Thickness
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).
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Aug 2026
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionOct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionNov 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Assiut UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Assiut University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ziad Mohamed Esmail Abdel-Aal, Assiut University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07788170
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Nutrition & Diaphragm in COPD
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No