An interventional study of Volunteer-Engaged Lifestyle Optimisation via ICOPE for Sarcopenia program (VELO-S) and Attention control in Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia in Elderly and Fall Prevention in Healthy Aging, sponsored by The University of Hong Kong. Recruiting at 1 site in Hong Kong. Open to participants aged 60 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-08.
Sponsored by The University of Hong Kong · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
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.
Sarcopenia-an age-related, progressive syndrome characterised by reduced skeletal muscle strength and mass/quality with impaired physical performance-has become a key modifiable determinant of frailty, falls, disability, hospitalisation, and mortality among community-dwelling older adults. In Hong Kong, approximately 9% of adults aged 65 and above are diagnosed with sarcopenia, indicating a substantial community burden. Beyond functional loss, sarcopenia is associated with increased healthcare utilisation and costs, evidence suggests higher risks of hospital admission and longer length of stay among older adults with sarcopenia, contributing to considerable economic impact.
A key gap in sarcopenia management: many interventions and service models have limited capacity to sustain lifestyle behavioural changes over time.
To address the above gaps, the VELO-S project proposes a 12-week, volunteer-engaged lifestyle optimisation programme grounded in WHO ICOPE and delivered through an ICOPE-based critical pathway for nutrition and exercise. VELO-S is enabled by a digital platform that contains an exhaustive checklist of person-centred risk factors and corresponding, precise lifestyle activity recommendations for each care pathway (nutrition and physical activity). In parallel, VELO-S incorporates goal-oriented empowerment and volunteer-enhanced interactive lifestyle empowerment workshops, targeting the sustainability mechanisms required to deter sarcopenia progression in community-dwelling older adults.
This overall study aims to evaluate the effects and implementation of VELO-S among community-dwelling older adults with pseudo-sarcopenia or sarcopenia.
The objectives of this study are to (1) examine the effectiveness of a 12-week VELO-S intervention compared to an attention control in improving appendicular skeletal muscle mass, handgrip strength, physical mobility function, risk of sarcopenia, frailty, nutrition, physical activity, and health-related quality of life among community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia risk or sarcopenia at 12 weeks post-intervention and 24 weeks follow-up; (2) to examine changes in health-related quality of life and mental health among volunteers who participated in the health coach capacity training at 12 weeks post-intervention delivery and 24 weeks follow-up, compared to baseline; (3) to explore the engagement experiences and perceived effects of elderly participants with sarcopenia during the program; (4) to explore the perspectives of social care workers on their experience on intervention effects and implementation process.
1,329 studies on the registry are indexed under Sarcopenia; 420 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 200 is above the median of 60 across 855 interventional studies indexed under Sarcopenia.
Browse Sarcopenia studies →The University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 1,292 studies on the registry; 348 are open to participants now.
Of its 9 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
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)
To control for the non-specific effects of receiving attention and social interaction on outcomes, participants in the attention control group will receive an education protocol that is unrelated to sarcoepnia, with comparable duration and frequency of contact and engagement to those in the intervention group ensuring comparable exposure to social engagement and attention. Educational materials will be distributed to participants.
Behavioral: Attention control
A series of interactive lifestyle empowerment workshops will be conducted at community centres to translate the care plan into sustainable behavioural changes. One brief orientation and strategic planning and individualised care planning session, five volunteer-enhanced interactive workshops led by nurses will be delivered to equip older adults with knowledge and practical skills to manage sarcopenia. Participants will be assisted by a corresponding health coach throughout the 12-week intervention workshop.
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
Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI)
Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) measured by Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 3 months (T2)
Sarcopenia and calf circumference scale (SARC-CalF)
Sarcopenia and calf circumference scale (SARC-CalF) includes 5 items (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, Falls, calf circumference). The score ranges from 0 to 20 points, with a score ≥ 11 points suggestive of sarcopenia.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)
11-item Edmonton Frail Scale
The Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) is scored from 0 to 17, with higher scores indicating greater frailty. An EFS score ≥ 8 is generally used as the cutoff for frailty. Scores 6-7 flag patients who are at risk.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)
Timed Up and Go (TUG) test
Measured by the Timed Up and Go Test in unit of second. A shorter completion time indicates better mobility and balance.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)
The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)
Measured by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (scores range from 0 to 30), with a lower score indicating a higher risk of malnutrition.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-Short)
Measured by International Physical Activity Questionnaire is a self-report measure of physical activity. Frenquency and time spent on walking, moderate and vigorous physical activity will be reported. More time spent on physical actiivty indicating a higher physical activity level.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)
The EuroQoL-5D-5L instruments
Assess the health-related quality of life to generate the utility score for cost-effective analysis. Including the status on mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression using a 5-level response set, with "unable to" levels mean a worse situation.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)
The EuroQoL-5D-5L Visual Analog Scale
Assess the health-related quality of lifeby a 0-100 scores Visual Analog Scale to measure perceived health, higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2)
Lipid Biomarkers
Assess the comprehensive lipid panel including triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein through capillary blood samples collected via fingertip puncture
Time frame: Baseline (T0)
Metabolic Biomarkers
Assess the fasting glucose through capillary blood samples collected via fingertip puncture
Time frame: Baseline (T0)
Plan to share: No
Started Feb 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Mar 2027, 13 months after the start.
Of 492 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Sarcopenia, half reached primary completion within 18 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 34. This study's planned 13 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 503 studies reached it within 18 months; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 34.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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