Muscle Anabolic Interventions to Accelerate Recovery From Hospitalization in Geriatric Patients

The purpose of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and effect size of interventions to modify the physiological recovery trajectory from hospitalization in community dwelling older adults.

Inclusion criteria

• Admitted to the UTMB hospital
• Aged 65 years or older
• Self-reported ability (with or without the aid of an assistive device) to walk across a small room two weeks prior to hospitalization
• Alert and oriented x3 by a physician on H&P.
• Discharged "to home" at hospital discharge. Participation in the study will be terminated in those subjects not discharged to home after hospital stay.

Exclusion criteria

• A Nursing home resident or hospice care patient
• Uncontrolled blood pressure (systolic >170, or diastolic > 100)
• New onset motor disability that prevents walking at the time of baseline testing (stroke with motor disability, lower limb orthopedic dx)
• End stage renal disease
• AST/ALT 2.5 times above the normal limit
• Recent (within 3 months) or current treatment with anabolic steroids.
• History of breast or prostate cancer
• Palpable prostate nodule or induration or prostate specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 4 ng/ml (PSA ≥ 3 ng/ml in men at high risk of prostate cancer)
• Hematocrit ≥ 50%
• Any other condition or event considered exclusionary by the PI and faculty physician