NCT04872998

Vascular Dysfunction During Physical Inactivity

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 20 January 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Step Count Reduction in Aging in 14 participants. Completed in 31 March 2021.

Timeline

15 March 2019

Primary endpoint
31 March 2021

31 March 2021

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Utah
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	basic science
Enrollment	14
Start date	15 March 2019
Primary completion	31 March 2021
Estimated completion	31 March 2021
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• Step Count Reduction

Conditions studied

• Aging — all drugs for Aging →
• Vascular Endothelium — all drugs for Vascular Endothelium →
• Skeletal Muscle — all drugs for Skeletal Muscle →

Sponsor

University of Utah

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Aging or Vascular Endothelium. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Brachial Artery Vascular Function Primary · Baseline, during reduced activity (2 weeks) and 2 weeks post reduced activity (4 weeks)

The flow rate of brachial artery measured by flow-mediated dilation (FDM). Doppler ultrasound will be used to determine brachial artery vascular function. Specifically, this assessment will include the measurement of flow rate and artery diameter at rest and in response to flow mediated dilation.

Baseline FMD

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	5.1	± 5.1

During reduced activity

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	3.1	± 2.4

2 week post reduced activity

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	4.4	± 3.4

Popliteal Artery Vascular Function Secondary · Baseline, during reduced activity (2 weeks) and 2 weeks post reduced activity (4 weeks)

Flow rate of popliteal artery measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Doppler ultrasound will be used to determine popliteal artery vascular function. Specifically, this assessment will include the measurement of flow rate and artery diameter at rest and in response to flow mediated dilation.

Baseline FMD

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	4.5	± 4.5

During reduced activity

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	2.4	± 2.1

2 weeks post reduced activity

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	3.6	± 2.3

Leg Microvascular Function Secondary · Baseline, during reduced activity (2 weeks) and 2 weeks post reduced activity (4 weeks)

Flow rate of leg microvasculature assessed by passive leg movement (PLM). Doppler ultrasound will be used to determine leg microvasculature function. Specifically, this assessment will include the measurement of flow rate at rest and in response to movement.

Baseline FMD

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	385	± 313

During reduced activity

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	311	± 202

2 weeks post reduced activity

Group	Value	95% CI
Reduced Activity	412	± 290

Sponsor's own description

Prolonged periods of reduced activity are associated with decreased vascular function and muscle atrophy. Physical inactivity due to a sedentary lifestyle or acute hospitalization is also associated with impaired recovery, hospital readmission, and increased mortality. Older adults are a particularly vulnerable population as functional (vascular and skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction) and structural deficits (loss in muscle mass leading to a reduction in strength) are a consequence of the aging process. The combination of inactivity and aging poses an added health threat to these individuals by accelerating the negative impact on vascular and skeletal muscle function and dysfunction. The underlying factors leading to vascular and skeletal muscle dysfunction are unknown, but have been linked to increases in oxidative stress. Additionally, there is a lack of understanding of how vascular function is impacted by inactivity in humans and how these changes are related to skeletal muscle function. It is the goal of this study to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to disuse muscle atrophy and vascular dysfunction in order to diminish their negative impact, and preserve vascular and skeletal muscle function.

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial. Completed trials usually publish results within 12-18 months.