SARC-F as a Case-Finding Tool for Sarcopenia in Older Adults

Introduction. Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive decrease of skeletal muscle mass associated with ag- ing. It is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, such as falls, fractures, physical disability, and death. Early detection of sarcopenia in older adults is of utmost importance as it has been shown to be crucial for providing appropriate interventions, primarily in terms of physical exercise and nutrition, to maintain a quality of life. Sarcopenia screening is crucial for public health given its significant prevalence and adverse outcomes.Aim. The aim of the research was case-finding for sarcopenia in individuals aged 65 and older and to determine whether there are differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia according to the SARC-F questionnaire in three groups of participants.Methods. A total of 138 individuals aged 65 and older of both sexes participated in the research. There were three groups of participants: residents in a retirement home, outpatients in an orthopaedic clinic, and community-dwelling individuals (general group). SARC-F questionnaire (Strength, Assistance with Walking, Rising from a Chair, Climbing Stairs, and Falls) was used as a highly recommended tool for screening.Results. The results showed that participants with an indication for sarcopenia were significantly older, with a mean age of 80.7 years (SD = 7.65) compared to 75.1 years (SD = 5.97) in the no indication group (t = 4.76; p < 0.001). In terms of residential setting, participants with an indication for sarcopenia were more likely to reside in nursing homes (36.5%) com- pared to those without an indication (12.0%). Conversely, participants without an indication were from the general population (62.7%) more frequently than those with an indication (41.3%). The proportion of participants from clinical settings was similar be- tween the groups (22.2% vs. 25.3%).Conclusion. Age is the only significant risk factor when assessing the sarcopenia risk in this research. Individuals at risk of sarcopenia were significantly older than those not at risk, with an average age difference of approximately five years. According to the results of this research, each additional year of age increases the odds of sarcopenia by approximately 12%. Retirement home residents are at the highest risk of sarcopenia. When it comes to the significant public health consequences caused by sarcopenia in the community, further similar research is necessary with an emphasis on an interdisciplinary approach to the disease.