WHAT IS SARC-F?
SARC-F (Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, Falls) is a quick and reliable tool that measures health status changes that can help determine the likelihood of sarcopenia.
It detects those at risk of adverse outcomes due to sarcopenia..1 Studies demonstrate that SARC-F is an effective screening tool due to its high specificity for sarcopenia.2
HOW IT WORKS
SARC-F consists of five questions, each of which is rated on a scale of 0 to 2. Once all questions have been answered, the total is calculated. A score of ≥4 highlights those who are at risk of potential sarcopenia.1
Where a patient is identified as at risk of sarcopenia, clinical strategies may include exercise and nutritional interventions that increase protein intake. A high SARCF score may also indicate the requirement for referral of the patient to another healthcare professional for further evaluation.1
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU SCREEN
INFOGRAPHIC - MUSCLE MATTERS: FINDING AND DIAGNOSING SARCOPENIA
This infographic displays the 4 steps of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWDSOP2) clinical algorithm used to help find and diagnose cases of sarcopenia.
VIDEO - MUSCLE MATTERS: PREVENTING MUSCLE LOSS
In this video series, Adrian Slee, PhD, and Sanjay Suman, MD, FRCP, explain the importance of preventing muscle loss in older adults, and how specialised nutrition can impact clinical outcomes.
References:
1. Malmstrom T.K. et al. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2016;7:28-36. 2. Nishikawa H. et al. In Vivo 2021:35(6):3001-3009.
Stay Connected