Clinical impact of the finger‐circle test in patients with liver diseases

Abstract

Aim To elucidate the relationship between the finger‐circle test (Yubi‐wakka [in Japanese] test; three levels of bigger, just‐fits, and smaller) and sarcopenia‐related factors and anthropometric parameters in patients with chronic liver disease (n = 202, 99 men, mean age 61 years). Methods Patients with both grip strength decline (<26 kg for men and <18 kg for women) and skeletal muscle index (SMI) decline (<7.0 kg/m2 in men and <5.7 kg/m2 in female) were diagnosed as sarcopenia. Results Liver cirrhosis was found in 56 patients (27.7%). The proportions of bigger, just‐fits, and smaller in liver cirrhosis versus non‐liver cirrhosis patients were 51.8%, 21.4%, and 26.8% versus 77.4%, 11.4%, and 8.2% (p < 0.01). The proportions of grip strength decline in patients with bigger, just‐fits, and smaller were 12.0% (77/142), 21.2% (7/33), and 40.7% (11/27; overall p < 0.01). The proportions of SMI decline in patients with bigger, just‐fits, and smaller were 9.9% (14/142), 45.5% (15/33), and 77.8% (21/27; overall p < 0.01). The proportions of sarcopenia in patients with bigger, just‐fits, and smaller were 3.5% (5/142), 18.2% (6/33), and 33.3% (9/27; overall p < 0.01). In both sexes, arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, calf circumference, and waist circumference were significantly stratified according to the finger‐circle test. In the multivariate analysis, smaller was an independent predictor for SMI decline (p < 0.01, risk ratio 8.188, bigger as a reference), and body mass index was an independent predictor for both SMI decline and sarcopenia. Conclusion The finger‐circle test can be helpful for the screening of sarcopenia in chronic liver disease and is closely linked to body composition.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Sarcopenia: Its Mechanism and Clinical Importance

“…Furthermore, unlike primary sarcopenia [ 4 , 5 ], no reference values have been established for muscle mass, grip strength, or walking speed in patients with IBD. Moreover, screening tools for sarcopenia such as SARC-F (a questionnaire consisting of five questions) as recommended by AWGS and EWGSOP, are not available in patients with IBD [ 4 , 5 , 33 ]. On the other hand, the usefulness of skeletal muscle signal intensity in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T1-weighted images for the clinical outcomes in patients with CD has also been reported [ 34 ].…”

Screening Tools for Sarcopenia

“…Furthermore, the "smaller" had 2.0-and 3.2-fold elevated risks of requiring long-term care insurance services and mortality, respectively (67). The usefulness of the fingercircle test has also been shown in patients with CLDs (68,69). In our study of 202 patients with CLDs (56 liver cirrhosis cases), the rates of SMI reduction in "bigger", "justfits", and "smaller" were 9.9% (14/142), 45.5% (15/33), and 77.8% (21/27; overall p<0.01).…”

“…In our study of 202 patients with CLDs (56 liver cirrhosis cases), the rates of SMI reduction in "bigger", "justfits", and "smaller" were 9.9% (14/142), 45.5% (15/33), and 77.8% (21/27; overall p<0.01). The percentages of sarcopenia in "bigger", "just-fits", and "smaller" were 3.5% (5/142), 18.2% (6/33), and 33.3% (9/27; overall p<0.01) (68). Screening tools for sarcopenia are listed in Table I.…”

Influence of Skeletal Muscle Volume Loss During Lenvatinib Treatment on Prognosis in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Multicenter Study in Tohoku, Japan

“…In recent years, various researchers have proposed screening methods for sarcopenia using arm circumference, calf circumference, and body mass index. [25][26][27] These simple methods are useful for evaluating changes in SMV during the treatment period for HCC and CLD.…”