Utility of SARC-F for Assessing Physical Function in Elderly Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Objectives: A simple and inexpensive tool for screening of sarcopenia would be helpful for clinicians. The present study was performed to determine whether the SARC-F questionnaire is useful in screening of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) for impaired physical function. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Single university hospital. Participants: A total of 235 Japanese patients >= 65 years old admitted to our hospital for CVD. Measurements: SARC-F, handgrip strength, leg strength, respiratory muscle strength, standing balance, usual gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, and 6-minute walking distance were measured before discharge from hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to SARC-F score: SARC-F < 4 (nonsarcopenia group) and SARC-F >= 4 ( sarcopenia group). Results: The sarcopenia prevalence rate was 25.5% and increased with age (P trend <.001). The sarcopenia group ( SARC-F score >= 4) had significantly lower handgrip strength, leg strength, and respiratory muscle strength, poorer standing balance, slower usual gait speed, lower SPPB score, and shorter 6-minute walking distance compared to the nonsarcopenia group (SARC-F score < 4). Patients in the sarcopenia group had consistently poorer physical function even after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: The SARC-F questionnaire is a useful screening tool for impaired physical function in elderly CVD patients. These findings support the use of the SARC-F for screening in hospital settings. (C) 2016 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.