SARC-F test in Sarcopenia and Frailty: A Narrative Review

Abstract

SARC-F is a commonly used screening tool for sarcopenia case finding due to its user-friendly and very practical application. It has been introduced to screen for sarcopenia with simple functional questions obviating the need for the measurement of muscle mass. A score equal to or greater than 4 has been reported as predictive of poor outcomes. Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome associated with well-known adverse consequences. The growing awareness of sarcopenia as a determinant of poor health in older people has underlined the importance of rapidly diagnosing sarcopenia, which will aid clinicians for implementing prevention and treatment strategies. It has been recommended formal tool for sarcopenia screening/case-finding. In this narrative review, we aimed to evaluate the use of SARC-F, its ability to screen and diagnose sarcopenia and its potential use in the fields other than sarcopenia, i.e. frailty. We conclude that SARC-F stands as one of the most useful and applied tool in studies focusing on screening and diagnosis of sarcopenia. In addition, it has a great potential to be used as a frailty screening tool.

Sarcopenia risk assessment - SARC F questionnaire

“…Rezultati dosadašnjih istraživanja koja se primjenjuju u dijagnozi sarkopenije zahtijevaju identifikaciju niske mišićne mase da bi se dijagnosticirala sarkopenija. 36 Dodatni je nedostatak upitnika SARC-F da mnoge osobe starije životne dobi, osobito one starije od 80 godina (ili s blagim kognitivnim oštećenjem) imaju poteškoća u razumijevanju pitanja. Primjerice u 4. pitanju: "Koliko često imate poteškoća pri penjanju uz deset stuba?"…”