Diagnostic accuracy of SARC-F and SARC-CalF as sarcopenia screening instruments in rheumatoid arthritis according to European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People

SARC-F, with its high sensitivity, can serve as a first-line physiotherapy screening tool to identify patients with rheumatoid arthritis at risk of sarcopenia, enabling timely referral for muscle-strengthening interventions. SARC-CalF offers greater specificity for confirmed cases and supports individualized exercise planning. As neither tool alone detects severe sarcopenia, a two-step approach combining both questionnaires with confirmatory assessments is recommended to enhance early detection and optimize functional outcomes in physiotherapy practice.