The Effect of Volunteer-Engaged Lifestyle Optimisation Via ICOPE on Sarcopenia in Older Adults (VELO-S)

NCT07345832 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: VELO-S
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Sarcopenia prevention and management are highly prioritised goals in the Healthy Ageing agenda. The study aims to: 1) evaluate the effects of the digital-enhanced, volunteer-engaged collaborative care pathway to improve sarcopenia, reduce fall risk, and increase health-related quality of life (HRQL) among community-dwelling older adults with risk of, or diagnosed with, sarcopenia; 2) evaluate whether the volunteers who received health coach capacity training and supported the intervention experienced health benefits across time; 3) explore the engagement experiences and perceived effects of elderly participants with sarcopenia during the program; 4) evaluate the intervention implementation process and effects from the perspectives of social care workers.

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Sarcopenia in Elderly; Fall Prevention in Healthy Aging; Frailty; Malnutrition Elderly; Frailty Syndrome

Keywords

sarcopenia; elderly; frailty; fall prevention; malnutrition; health-related quality of life; digital intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI)

  Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) measured by Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)

  Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)

• Handgrip Strength

  Handgrip strength will be measured by a hydraulic hand dynamometer from dominant hand, taking the highest value among 3 measurements. Low muscle strength is defined if male \<28kg, and femal \<18kg.

  Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)

• Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)

  Physical function will be measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), which combines balance test, gait velocity and chair stand. SPPB score ranges from 0-12, higher score better physical performance. Low physical function is defined by SPPB score ≤9.

  baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 3 months (T2)

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Sarcopenia and calf circumference scale (SARC-CalF)

  Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)

• 11-item Edmonton Frail Scale

  Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)

• Timed Up and Go (TUG) test

  Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)

• The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

  Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)

• International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-Short)

  Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)

Study Arms (2)

Volunteer-Engaged Lifestyle Optimisation via ICOPE for Sarcopenia program (VELO-S)

EXPERIMENTAL

This digital program incorporates a 12-week, volunteer-engaged lifestyle optimisation programme grounded in WHO ICOPE and delivered through an ICOPE-based critical pathway for nutrition and exercise.

Behavioral: Volunteer-Engaged Lifestyle Optimisation via ICOPE for Sarcopenia program (VELO-S)

Attention control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

To control for the non-specific effects of receiving attention and social interaction on outcomes, participants in the attention control group will receive a comparable duration and frequency of contact and engagement to those in the intervention group. The attention-control group will receive six sessions delivered in a small-group format. The six sessions will be delivered topics that unrelated to sarcopenia, including social health, mental health, cognitive health, insomnia and medication safety. Educational materials will be distributed to participants. Participants will be invited to attend the sessions either by a face-to-face meeting or by telephone call (around 60 minutes) with the research team to talk about the aforementioned topics, ensuring comparable exposure to social engagement and attention.

Behavioral: Attention control

Interventions

Attention control BEHAVIORAL

The attention control group receives six session meeting covering topics unrelated to sarcopenia, it will be delivered in a small-group with comparable duration and frequency of contact and engagement to those in the intervention group

Attention control

Volunteer-Engaged Lifestyle Optimisation via ICOPE for Sarcopenia program (VELO-S) BEHAVIORAL

A series of interactive lifestyle empowerment workshops will be conducted at community centres to translate the care plan into sustainable behavioural changes. In addition to one session for individualised care planning, five 90-minute, bi-weekly, in-person, volunteer-enhanced interactive workshops led by nurses will be delivered to equip older adults with knowledge and practical skills to manage sarcopenia. Before interactive workshops, a brief orientation and strategic planning session will focus on the health coach's role, introduce participants to them, and pair each participant with a coach. Participants will be assisted by a corresponding health coach throughout the 12-week intervention workshop.

Volunteer-Engaged Lifestyle Optimisation via ICOPE for Sarcopenia program (VELO-S)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• aged 60 or above
• Pseudo-Sarcopenia as indicated by a score on SARC-CaIF ≥11, OR sarcopenia according relative BIA-based appendicular skeletal mass/ height (Men: \<7 kg/m2; women: \<5.7 kg/m2), OR handgrip strength on dominant hand (male \<28 kg, female \<18 kg) (Chen et al., 2025)
• the ability to use a smartphone, electronic tablet, or computer
• consent to participate

You may not qualify if:

• having medical conditions contradictory to physical activity including unstable cardiovascular and orthopaedic conditions
• engaging in other structured health promotion program involving physical activity and nutritional enhancement

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

Related Publications (25)

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  RESULT

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sarcopenia; Frailty; Malnutrition

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Atrophy; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pathologic Processes; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Study Officials

• Doris Sau Fung YU, PhD

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Doris Sau Fung YU, PhD

CONTACT

852-3917-6319; dyu1@hku.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessors will be blinded to the intervention assignment results.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: This RCT randomised 200 older adults at risk of, or diagnosed with, sarcopenia to receive the digital pathway intervention or to an attention control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2026
• First Posted: January 16, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2027
• Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)