Sarcopenia Screened With SARC-F Questionnaire Is Associated With Quality of Life and 4-Year Mortality

Tai Yin Wu, Chen Kun Liaw, Fang Chun Chen, Kuan Liang Kuo, Wei Chu Chie, Rong Sen Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives There is no gold standard in diagnosing sarcopenia. We aimed to assess the validity of screening sarcopenia using SARC-F (sluggishness, assistance in walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, falls). Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Community hospital in Taiwan. Participants Community-dwelling senior citizens. Measurements Participants were interviewed with a structured questionnaire annually. The questionnaire items were recoded into the 5 items of SARC-F (sluggishness, assistance in walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, falls). In the baseline year, a subgroup was tested for grip strength and body composition. Healthcare utilization and mortality were based on self-report and hospital records. Our main outcome was 4-year mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization, emergency care use, and quality of life (QOL) measured using the CASP-12 scale (control, autonomy, self-realization, pleasure (control, autonomy, self-realization, pressure). Results There were 670 participants. The mean age was 76.1 (standard deviation 6.36). One-half were men (n = 340, 50.7%). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.1% (n = 41). SARC-F scores were inversely associated with grip strength (P = .001) and skeletal muscle composition (P = .045). Participants with sarcopenia were mostly women (P = .005) and older (P < .001). In univariate analysis, sarcopenia was associated with 1- to 4-year mortalities (P = .033, .001, .001, <.001, respectively), overall hospitalization (P = .004), overall emergency care use (P = .017), and QOL (P < .001). In multivariate model, sarcopenia [odds ratio (OR) 7.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.67-20.18], age (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.29 for each year), and taking vitamin D supplements (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11-0.74) were factors associated with mortality. Conclusions Sarcopenia screened using SARC-F was associated with subsequent QOL, overall hospitalization, overall emergency care use, and 4-year mortality. SARC-F can serve as a quick screening tool of sarcopenia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1129-1135
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association
Volume17
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • mortality
  • SARC-F
  • Sarcopenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing
  • Health Policy

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