Sarc-F and muscle function in community dwelling adults with aged care service needs: baseline and post-training relationship

Abstract

BackgroundThis study sought to better understand the psychometric properties of the SARC-F, by examining the baseline and training-related relationships between the five SARC-F items and objective measures of muscle function. Each of the five items of the SARC-F are scored from 0 to 2, with total score of four or more indicative of likely sarcopenia.MethodsThis manuscript describes a sub-study of a larger step-wedge, randomised controlled 24-week progressive resistance and balance training (PRBT) program trial for Australian community dwelling older adults accessing government supported aged care. Muscle function was assessed using handgrip strength, isometric knee extension, 5-time repeated chair stand and walking speed over 4 m. Associations within and between SARC-F categories and muscle function were assessed using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and multinomial regression, respectively.ResultsSignificant associations were identified at baseline between SARC-F total score and measures of lower-body muscle function (r = − 0.62 to 0.57; p ≤ 0.002) in 245 older adults. MCA analysis indicated the first three dimensions of the SARC-F data explained 48.5% of the cumulative variance. The initial dimension represented overall sarcopenia diagnosis, Dimension 2 the ability to displace the body vertically, and Dimension 3 walking ability and falls status. The majority of the 168 older adults who completed the PRBT program reported no change in their SARC-F diagnosis or individual item scores (56.5–79.2%). However, significant associations were obtained between training-related changes in SARC-F total and item scores and changes in walking speed and chair stand test performance (r = − 0.30 to 0.33; p < 0.001 and relative risk ratio = 0.40–2.24; p < 0.05, respectively). MCA analysis of the change score data indicated that the first two dimensions explained 32.2% of the cumulative variance, with these dimensions representing whether a change occurred and the direction of change, respectively.DiscussionThe results advance our comprehension of the psychometric properties on the SARC-F, particularly its potential use in assessing changes in muscle function. Older adults’ perception of their baseline and training-related changes in their function, as self-reported by the SARC-F, closely matched objectively measured muscle function tests. This is important as there may be a lack of concordance between self-reported and clinician-measured assessments of older adults’ muscle function. However, the SARC-F has a relative lack of sensitivity to detecting training-related changes, even over a period of 24 weeks.ConclusionsResults of this study may provide clinicians and researchers a greater understanding of how they may use the SARC-F and its potential limitations. Future studies may wish to further examine the SARC-F’s sensitivity of change, perhaps by adding a few additional items or an additional category of performance to each item.

SARC‐F as a screening tool to detect computed tomography‐based sarcopenia and myosteatosis among older adults with cancer

“…In support of this hypothesis, SARC-F is inversely associated with objective measures in strength and physical performance, including reductions in grip strength and gait speed as well as increases in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test and 5 chair stand test. [37][38][39][40][41] Of note, myosteatosis but not sarcopenia was significantly associated with decreased overall survival in our study. This is consistent with prior studies demonstrating that muscle quality, rather than muscle quantity, may better predict mortality, presumably because of its closer association with physical function.…”

“…Although the mechanisms underlying this observation are unclear, we hypothesize that SARC‐F is at least partially capturing the functional components of low muscle strength and/or poor physical performance. In support of this hypothesis, SARC‐F is inversely associated with objective measures in strength and physical performance, including reductions in grip strength and gait speed as well as increases in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test and 5 chair stand test 37–41 …”

“…In support of this hypothesis, SARC‐F is inversely associated with objective measures in strength and physical performance, including reductions in grip strength and gait speed as well as increases in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test and 5 chair stand test. 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 …”

Sarcopenia in male patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy: a longitudinal pilot study

“…Based on simplicity and clinical relevance of the recommendations of the EWGSOP2, we would recommend that the oncology healthcare teams should routinely assess SARC-F and/or handgrip strength test (Cruz-Jentoft et al, 2019), with such assessments only taking a handful of minutes to complete. It is even possible that the SARC-F monitoring could be performed by the patient themselves, as a recent study demonstrated that changes in older adults' SARC-F scores match that of quantitative assessments of muscle strength and physical performance performed by their allied health professionals (Keogh et al, 2019).…”