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COVID-19's hidden toll: muscle wasting in the ICU

NCT ID NCT04849624

Knowledge-focused Sponsor: University of Malaya Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
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Expanded access (paused)
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Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

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Status unknown
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First seen Sep 15, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers at the University of Malaya are studying how COVID-19 affects muscle loss and strength in critically ill patients. They will compare quadricep muscle thickness and cross-sectional area, along with handgrip and knee extension strength, between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The study aims to understand whether COVID-19 worsens muscle wasting during critical illness.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to
If researchers find that COVID-19 patients lose muscle faster or more severely, this could guide earlier or more intensive rehabilitation for critically ill patients.
What could go wrong
This is a small observational study of 59 people, so it cannot prove cause and effect. Ultrasound and strength tests can vary between operators, and the findings may not apply to other hospitals or patient groups.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

59 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Mar 2021

Finished

Nov 2024

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

A total of 30 COVID-19 ICU patients as per the eligibility criteria will be recruited. A total of 20 non-COVID-19 ICU patients that are matched by age (+/- 10 years old), sex and ventilation mode (mostly will be with lung pathology) will be enrolled to compare their change in muscle mass and muscle strength at hospital discharge with COVID-19 ICU patients.

Ages

18 to 90 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 18 years old * Admitted into the ICU due to COVID-19 Exclusion Criteria: * Likely to transfer out from the ICU in 24 hours from screening * Likely to die in the next 7 days * Bedbound prior to hospital admission or bedbound in the hospital for \>10 days

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

COVID-19 Critical Illness muscular atrophy

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

COVID19 Critical illness Muscle atrophy Muscle strength

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya

    Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

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