Comparison of SARC-F and SARC-CalF in predicting low muscle strength measurement according to different diagnostic criteria in hospitalized older patients

Objective: Sarcopenia is a highly prevalent syndrome in hospitalized older patients and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The management of sarcopenia depends on the use of appropriate screening and diagnostic tools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of sarcopenia risk screening methods for predicting low muscle strength based on different diagnostic criteria. Methods: This retrospective study included hospitalized patients over 65 years of age. Three commonly used diagnostic criteria European Working Group on Sarcopenia in the Elderly, Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia Definition and Outcomes Consortium and population-based criteria were applied as reference standards. The sensitivity and specificity of the SARC-F and SARC-CalF tools were evaluated based on low handgrip strength as defined by the different reference criteria. Results: A total of 364 patients with a median age of 74 (12) years and the main reasons for hospitalization were surgery (37.1%) and oncological diseases (20.6%) were included in the study. According to different reference criteria, the SARC-F tool has a sensitivity of 80.2-85.8% and a specificity of 53.7-70.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of the SARC-CalF tool was 70.7-76.2% and 46.1-58.8%, respectively. The sensitivity of both tools was lower among surgical patients and those who were well-nourished. Conclusions: The SARC-F tool demonstrates higher sensitivity in assessing low muscle strength in hospitalized older patients. However, further research is needed to identify the most appropriate sarcopenia risk assessment method, particularly according to the patient’s characteristics.