Calf and arm circumference as simple markers for screening sarcopenia in patients with chronic liver disease

Positive impact of obesity on the prognosis of liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The study aims to determine the prognostic impact of obesity, sarcopenic obesity, and dynapenic obesity in patients with chronic liver disease.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study enrolled patients with chronic hepatitis (n = 746) and liver cirrhosis (n = 434) without hepatocellular carcinoma at entry. The patients were evaluated for sarcopenia and obesity between April 2016 and April 2022. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of ≥ 25 kg/m2. Sarcopenic obesity was defined as low skeletal muscle mass (pre-sarcopenia) with obesity and dynapenic obesity was defined as low muscle strength (dynapenia) with obesity. The effects of obesity on survival were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

The mean observation period was 2.5 years. Obesity, sarcopenic obesity, and dynapenic obesity were found in 271 (45.5%), 17 (2.9%), and 21 (3.5%) men, and 261 (44.7%), 59 (10.1%), and 53 (9.1%) women, respectively. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model revealed that Child-Pugh class, dynapenia (hazard ratio [HR] 3.89), elderly (≥ 65 years old) (HR 2.11), and obesity (HR 0.58) were independently associated with overall survival (OS). However, neither sarcopenic nor dynapenic obesity were associated with OS. In patients with cirrhosis, the OS of the obese group was significantly higher than that of the non-obese group. The effect of obesity on OS was significant in elderly patients, but not in younger patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenic and dynapenic obesity seem unrelated to the prognosis of patients with chronic liver disease. Obesity has a positive effect on the prognosis of elderly patients with cirrhosis.

SARC-F and modified versions using arm and calf circumference: Diagnostic performance for sarcopenia screening and the impact of obesity

AIM

SARC-F is limited by low sensitivity for sarcopenia identification. As surrogates of muscle mass, mid-arm circumference (MAC) and/or calf circumference have been proposed as additions to SARC-F to enhance sarcopenia identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F + MAC, and SARC-CalF + MAC in sarcopenia detection, and to assess the impact of obesity on their diagnostic performance.

METHODS

We studied 230 healthy non-frail community-dwelling older adults age >50 years. We performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F + MAC and SARC-CalF + MAC against sarcopenia diagnosed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 as the reference standard. Obesity was defined by high waist circumference (men ≥90 cm, women ≥80 cm). We performed subgroup analysis to compare between obese and non-obese groups.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sarcopenia was 27.0% by AWGS 2019. SARC-CalF + MAC had the best diagnostic performance (area under the curve [AUC] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.81; sensitivity 66.1%; specificity 69.1%), followed by SARC-CalF (AUC 0.70, 95% CI 0.62-0.78; sensitivity 21.0%; specificity 95.8%). SARC-F (AUC 0.57, 95% CI 0.49-0.66; sensitivity 0%; specificity 100%) performed significantly worsethan its modified versions (P < 0.05). There was higher accuracy of sarcopenia identification in obese compared with non-obese groups for SARC-F + MAC (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.85 vs. 0.58, 95% CI 0.46-0.70) and SARC-CalF + MAC (AUC 0.75, 95% CI 0.66-0.85 vs. 0.70, 95% CI 0.59-0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of arm circumference to SARC-CalF confers better diagnostic accuracy for sarcopenia identification, especially in the obese group. Thus, MAC may complement SARC-CalF for community screening of sarcopenia amongst healthy community-dwelling older adults by increasing sensitivity for the detection of sarcopenic obesity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 182-188.

Functional fitness and risk factors of older patients with diabetes combined with sarcopenia and/or frailty: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To learn the functional fitness levels in older adults with diabetes combined with sarcopenia and/or frailty.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional investigation study.

METHODS

A total of 205 participants with type 2 diabetes were recruited from September 2019 to August 2020. All patients underwent diagnostic screening for sarcopenia and frailty, and were divided into combined group (the patients who had sarcopenia and/or frailty) and non-combined group (the patient who had no sarcopenia and/or frailty). The diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia applied was proposed by the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia in 2019 and frailty status was assessed using FRAIL Scale. Functional fitness was measured using the Senior Fitness Test and compared between combined and non-combined groups. Biochemical data of blood routine, glycolipid, and hepatorenal function tests were acquired from medical records. Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the factors associated with the sarcopenia and/or frailty in the older adults with diabetes.

RESULTS

Compared with non-combined group, the participants in combined group exhibited shorter 6-min walk distance, fewer repetitions of arm curls and chair stands, smaller back scratch and chair sit-and-reach values, and longer time in the 8-ft up-and-go test. The patients in the combined group had significantly lower level of red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and higher level of platelet and blood urea nitrogen. Apart from calf circumference, physical activity, and insulin injection treatment, 6-min walk distance was the factor associated with diabetes combined with sarcopenia and/or frailty.

Validated Tools for Screening Sarcopenia: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

Choosing the optimal sarcopenia screening tool for a specific clinical scenario is challenging. We aimed to summarize all validated sarcopenia screening tools with diagnostic accuracy tested in one or more study populations.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Hospitals, nursing homes, communities, or health checkups.

METHODS

We systematically searched 3 databases in April 2022: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL. Two review authors independently performed the study selection and data extraction. The included tools' contents, characteristics, and number of citations were summarized and visualized.

RESULTS

We summarized 102 diagnostic accuracy studies involving 53 screening tools, classified into 7 groups: questionnaires (n = 13); serum biomarkers (n = 10); formulas, algorithms, and models (n = 9); physical ability tests (n = 9); integration tools (n = 7); anthropometric indices (n = 3); and ultrasound or bioimpedance analysis (n = 2). The most commonly used questionnaire was SARC-F (770 citations), followed by SARC-CalF (254 citations) and MSRA-7 (61 citations). Handgrip strength and Ishii score were the most widely used physical performance tests (331 citations) and formulas (294 citations), respectively. Sarcopenia index (based on serum cystatin C and creatinine) and calf circumference were the most commonly used serum biomarkers (123 citations) and anthropometric indexes (127 citations), respectively. Ultrasound was the most commonly used imaging tool for screening sarcopenia (57 citations). The included tools varied significantly in content. Various tools assessed some or all components of sarcopenia with different methods, and others assessed different domains, such as age, body mass index, falls, diet, and even mental health. We also summarized the screening tools that were validated in different clinical settings (hospitals, communities, nursing homes, and health checkups).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

More than 50 validated tools are currently available for screening sarcopenia in different clinical settings. The results of this review may help clinicians and researchers in selecting optimal tools for sarcopenia in different clinical scenarios and in developing future tools.

Anthropometric and Body Circumference Determinants for Hand Grip Strength: A Population-Based Mon-Timeline Study

Background

Hand grip strength (HGS) is a tool for diagnosing sarcopenia. In this study, we examined some anthropometric and body circumference measurements as determinants for HGS.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted with participants (Mongolians, n = 1080, aged 18-70, mean age of 41.2 ± 13.9 years, 33.7% of men) from the "Mon-Timeline" cohort study. To measure HGS, a digital grip strength dynamometer was used.

Results

Mean HGS in men was 40.1 ± 10.4 kg and in women was 24.5 ± 5.6 kg. Correlation analysis showed that the strongest correlation with HGS was height (r = 0.712, p < 0.001). Moreover, HGS was inversely correlated with age (r = -0.239, p < 0.001) and thigh circumference (r = -0.070, p < 0.01), while it was positively correlated with body weight (r = 0.309, p < 0.001), neck circumference (r = 0.427, p < 0.001), upper arm circumference (r = 0.108, p < 0.0001), lower arm circumference (r = 0.413, p < 0.0001), and calf circumference (r = 0.117, p < 0.0001). In the multivariate linear regression analysis (unstandardized B coefficient, 95% CI), age (-0.159, -0.188; -0.129), sex (-9.262, -10.459; -8.064), height (0.417, 0.357; 0.478), lower arm circumference (1.003, 0.736; 1.270), and calf circumference (-0.162, -0.309; -0.015) were significantly associated with HGS.

Conclusions

When detecting sarcopenia using HGS, it is important to take into account variables such as body height and body circumference.

Comparison of Diagnostic Value of the SARC-F and Its Four Modified Versions in Polish Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Purpose

Sarcopenia is associated with adverse outcomes in elderly persons, including functional disability, falls, and even death. Therefore, older adults should be routinely screened for sarcopenia. Due to the unsatisfactory sensitivity of the SARC-F questionnaire, four modified versions have been elaborated: SARC-CalF, SARC-F+EBM, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC. The diagnostic performance of the four modifications of SARC-F has yet to be compared.

Materials and Methods

We performed the sensitivity/specificity analysis and compared the overall diagnostic accuracy of the five questionnaires in 260 community-dwelling volunteers aged ≥ 60 yrs from Poland. The study was performed against three reference standards: the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP1), EWGSOP2, and modified EWGSOP2 criteria.

Results

The prevalence of sarcopenia based on these criteria was 20.8%, 11.2%, and 17.3%, respectively. Concerning the three reference standards, the sensitivity of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F+EBM, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC ranged from 31.5-44.8%, 57.4-65.5%, 48.1-62.1%, 71.4-79.2% and 71.4-79.2%, respectively. The specificity ranged from 86.6-87.4%, 86.1-90.3%, 82.3-84.0%, 69.4-78.2%, and 72.1-79.7%, respectively. The AUCs of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F+EBM, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC ranged from 0.643-0.700, 0.757-0.792, 0.740-0.775, 0.767-0.812 and 0.771-0.852, respectively.

Conclusion

The SARC-F questionnaire has low diagnostic accuracy, which limits its usefulness as a sarcopenia screening tool. Incorporating two simple anthropometric measurements, ie, arm and calf circumference, notably improves the diagnostic performance of SARC-F. Based on our results, SARC-CalF+AC seems to be the best screening tool for sarcopenia screening in community-dwelling older adults.

The prognostic value of comprehensive geriatric assessment on the management of older patients with small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The prognostic value of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) for the management of older small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients remains to be established.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort enrolled 21 SCLC patients over 65 years from March 2018 to 2019 at the Yonsei Cancer Center. The CGA included the following instruments: frailty, body mass index, sarcopenia (circumference of arm and calf, Timed Up and Go test, grip strength), comorbidity, polypharmacy, activities of daily living (ADL), Instrumental ADL, nutrition, depression, and cognitive function. The correlations of oncological and geriatric variables with overall survival (OS) were determined. The log-rank test with Cox model and Kaplan-Meier method were used for the analysis.

RESULTS

The median age was 75 years (range, 67 to 85). All patients had the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2. The median survival was 9.93 months (range, 1.53 to 36.30). Among CGA parameters, ADL and nutritional status had significant differences in OS in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, only nutritional status was independently associated with survival (hazard ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.57). Median OS for low nutritional status was 5.63 months and the normal nutrition group was 15.5 months (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Pre-treatment nutritional status measured by CGA appears to be a predictor of OS in older SCLC patients. However, for further generalization of the implication of CGA in SCLC, a larger scale study with prospective design is strongly needed.

Measurement of mid-arm circumference as a starting point for nutritional assessment of patients with decompensated cirrhosis: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The mid-arm circumference (MAC) is an accessible, quick, and inexpensive measurement, which can be performed at the bedside only with a measuring tape. In this sense, the present study aims to suggest MAC cut-off values to assess the nutritional status and its association with mortality of hospitalised patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was performed with decompensated cirrhotic patients. Nutritional status was assessed by MAC and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Considering the SGA as the reference standard and based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the MAC cut-off values with the best sensitivity and specificity were selected. Predictors of mortality were identified using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The study included 100 patients with a mean ± SD age of 60.1 ± 10.3 years. The median follow-up time was 11.2 months and overall mortality was 60%. Considering malnutrition assessed by SGA as the reference standard, the area under the curve of MAC for women and men was 0.947 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.878-1.000) and 0.813 (95% CI = 0.694-0.932). The MAC cut-off values of ≤ 28 cm for women and ≤ 30 cm for men reached a sensitivity and specificity of 85.5% and 71%, respectively. According to multivariate analysis, a low MAC was significantly associated with mortality (hazard ratio = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.20-4.84).

CONCLUSIONS

The MAC cut-off values had satisfactory accuracy for men and women in predicting malnutrition. Additionally, a low MAC was an independent predictor of mortality. Thus, these MAC cut-off values can be used as the first step of nutritional assessment to prioritise patients who require more detailed assessment.

Annual changes in grip strength and skeletal muscle mass in chronic liver disease: observational study

Sarcopenia is a common complication in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD); however, the progression of sarcopenia over the course of CLD is unclear. The present study therefore determined the natural course of the progression of sarcopenia in patients with CLD and the effect of liver cirrhosis (LC) on this progression. This observational study analyzed patients with chronic hepatitis (CH) (n = 536) and LC (n = 320) who underwent evaluations of the grip strength and skeletal muscle mass of the arms, trunk, and legs for sarcopenia between 2016 and 2021. A bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to evaluate skeletal muscle mass. The annual rate of change (%/year) in two tests were compared between patients with CH and LC. The annual rates of change in grip strength and skeletal muscle of arms, trunk, and legs of patients with CH and LC were - 0.84% vs. - 2.93%, - 0.54% vs. - 1.71%, - 0.43% vs. - 1.02%, and - 0.76% vs. - 1.70% for men and - 0.12% vs. - 1.71%, - 0.66% vs. - 1.71%, - 0.49% vs. - 1.31%, and - 0.76% vs. - 1.54% for women, respectively. The progression of sarcopenia was greater in LC patients than in CH patients and that the decrease in grip strength was most prominent in the progression of sarcopenia in patients with LC.

Calf Circumference, a Valuable Tool to Predict Sarcopenia in Older People Hospitalized with Hip Fracture

Sarcopenia is an important risk factor for hip fracture in older people. Nevertheless, this condition is overlooked in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with sarcopenia among older patients hospitalized for hip fracture, to identify a predictive model of sarcopenia based on variables related to this condition, and to evaluate the performance of screening tools in order to choose the most suitable to be adopted in routine care of older people with hip fracture. A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 90 patients (mean age 83.4 ± 7.2 years), by assessing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, anthropometric measures, such as body mass index (BMI) and calf circumference (CC), the functional status (Barthel Index), the nutritional status (MNA-SF), and the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MEDAS). Diagnosis of sarcopenia was established according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). The analysis of variables associated with sarcopenia was performed using multivariate logistic regression models. Clusters of sarcopenia were explored with heatmaps and predictive risk models were estimated. Sarcopenia was confirmed in 30% of hip fracture patients. Variables with the strongest association with sarcopenia were BMI (OR = 0.79 [0.68−0.91], p < 0.05) and CC (OR = 0.64 [0.51−0.81], p < 0.01). CC showed a relatively high predictive capacity of sarcopenia (area under the curve: AUC = 0.82). Furthermore, CC could be a valuable tool to predict sarcopenia risk compared with the currently used screening tools, SARC-F and SARC-CalF (AUC, 0.819 vs. 0.734 and 0.576, respectively). More studies are needed to validate these findings in external study populations.

Neck circumference may predict sarcopenia in Japanese older adults requiring long-term care

Several studies have established the advantage of using anthropometric measurements as indicators of sarcopenia. Nevertheless, no study has explored the association between sarcopenia and neck circumference. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the data of 90 older adults requiring long-term care to evaluate this association and establish cut-off points for individuals at risk of sarcopenia as defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019. A significant association was found between sarcopenia and neck circumference using binomial logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses. The optimal cut-off value for neck circumference associated with increased risk for sarcopenia among older adults was 32.8 cm for females and 38.0 cm for males. Given the potential of declining neck circumference as an anthropometric marker of sarcopenia, it has clinical applications in screening for sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term care.

Deep Learning-Based Muscle Segmentation and Quantification of Full-Leg Plain Radiograph for Sarcopenia Screening in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Sarcopenia, an age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is correlated with adverse outcomes after some surgeries. Here, we present a deep-learning-based model for automatic muscle segmentation and quantification of full-leg plain radiographs. We illustrated the potential of the model to predict sarcopenia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A U-Net-based deep learning model for automatic muscle segmentation was developed, trained and validated on the plain radiographs of 227 healthy volunteers. The radiographs of 403 patients scheduled for primary TKA were reviewed to test the developed model and explore its potential to predict sarcopenia. The proposed deep learning model achieved mean IoU values of 0.959 (95% CI 0.959–0.960) and 0.926 (95% CI 0.920–0.931) in the training set and test set, respectively. The fivefold AUC value of the sarcopenia classification model was 0.988 (95% CI 0.986–0.989). Of seven key predictors included in the model, the predicted muscle volume (PMV) was the most important of these features in the decision process. In the preoperative clinical setting, wherein laboratory tests and radiographic imaging are available, the proposed deep-learning-based model can be used to screen for sarcopenia in patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA with high sarcopenia screening performance.

Mid-upper arm circumference is associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: A population based observational study

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a series of liver diseases based on liver steatosis and metabolic disorders. Steatosis, as the core factor in MAFLD diagnosis, and fibrosis, as the major determinant of adverse outcomes of MAFLD, need to be assessed simply and accurately. In this study, we explored the significance of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) in evaluating liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with MAFLD. We included 2397 cases with MAFLD from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) database. Liver steatosis and fibrosis were measured by vibration controlled transient elastography. Anthropometric parameters and demographic and serological data were obtained from the NHANES database. The association between MUAC and liver steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated by a multivariable linear regression model, a weighted generalized additive model, and smooth curve fitting using R. MUAC was positively associated with liver steatosis in every multivariate linear regression model (model 1: β = 3.3513; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7722-3.9304; model 2: β = 3.8492; 95% CI, 3.2441-4.4542; model 3: β = 2.4987; 95% CI, 1.8371-3.1604), and this positive association was consistent in both men and women and among different race groups (Mexican American, other Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, Black, Asian, and other race). On the other hand, MUAC was positively associated with liver fibrosis in every multivariate linear regression model, and this positive association also was consistent in both men and women and among non-Hispanic White and Black populations. Increased MUAC was positively associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with MAFLD. This was particularly true for MUAC ≥ 42.0 cm. MUAC might be a simple and convenient evaluation tool for MAFLD.

Comparison of the Diagnostic Value of SARC-F and Its Three Modified Versions for Screening Sarcopenia in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia refers to age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass. SARC-F is a screening tool for sarcopenia with high specificity and relatively good overall diagnostic accuracy but with low sensitivity. This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of SARC-F and its three modified versions (SARC-CalF, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC) for screening sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN

Diagnostic accuracy study.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

We screened sarcopenia of older adults (age ≥ 60 years) in three communities in 2020. The participants' information and anthropometric measurements were collected, respectively.

METHODS

The updated consensuses of AWGS2019 and the EWGSOP2 were applied as the reference standards. we performed sensitivity/specificity analyses and estimated the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of the four scales.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sarcopenia was 26.4% and 12.5% based on the AWGS2019 and EWGSOP2 criteria, respectively. The sensitivities/specificities of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC were 12.26%/95.59%, 47.17%/91.53%, 82.08%/68.47%, and 75.47%/83.73%, respectively, using the AWGS2019 criteria. Further, the corresponding AUCs of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC were 0.650 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.601-0.697), 0.811 (95% CI: 0.769-0.848), 0.801 (95% CI: 0.759-0.839), and 0.848 (95% CI: 0.809-0.881), respectively. Using the EWGSOP2 criteria, the sensitivities/specificities of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC were 20.00%/95.44%, 56.00%/86.61%, 70.00%/81.20%, and 80.00%/74.93%, respectively. The AUCs of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, SARC-F+AC, and SARC-CalF+AC were 0.706 (95% CI: 0.659-0.750), 0.799 (95% CI: 0.756-0.837), 0.815 (95% CI: 0.774-0.852), and 0.834 (95% CI: 0.794-0.869), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified versions of SARC-F+AC and SARC-CalF+AC, which have superior sensitivity, can be used to screen sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. SARC-CalF+AC had the highest overall diagnostic accuracy for screening sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults.

Association between the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) screening indicators of sarcopenia with the risk of pneumonia in stable patients diagnosed with schizophrenia

AIM

Here, we investigate the relationship between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) screening indicators of sarcopenia and the risk of pneumonia in stable patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

METHOD

The study is prospective and includes inpatients with schizophrenia from two mental health centers in Western China. The studied screening indicators, MUAC and CC were assessed in standing patients. The relationship between MUAC and CC as sarcopenia screening indicators with the risk of pneumonia in patients with schizophrenia was analyzed by performing a statistical logistic regression analysis.

RESULT

For this study, 339 patients with schizophrenia, aged 50 years and over were recruited. Moreover, four patients with pneumonia that occurred within 1 week of the relapse of schizophrenia were excluded. As a result, only 335 patients were included in the analysis. Pneumonia has been reported in 82 (24.5%) of all included patients with schizophrenia. Our data analysis confirmed that in the male patients, the higher CC was associated with a lower risk of pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] = 0.751, 95% CI: 0.635-0.889). We have divided men into two cohorts following the values of CC. Our analysis further showed that the patients with CC ≥ 34 cm had a lower risk of pneumonia in men (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.163-0.795).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that CC is associated with pneumonia risk in stable men with schizophrenia.

SARC-F and other screening tests for sarcopenia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Sarcopenia screening tools can enable clinicians to select individuals for more demanding evaluations, and hence, may facilitate its timely diagnosis and management. The most common recommended screening test is SARC-F, whereas many others are proposed. We aimed to summarize the recent studies and evidence performed on SARC-F and other sarcopenia screening tools.

RECENT FINDINGS

Meta-analysis studies reported that despite having moderate-high specificity, SARC-F has low-moderate sensitivity to detect sarcopenia, which would cause a significant number of individuals having sarcopenia to be unrecognized. Several recent studies aimed to increase sensitivity and utility of SARC-F as a screening tool by i.e., application of lower cut-offs, adding extra-items, and combining with other screening tests. Some of these approaches increased its screening efficacy significantly. In line with its previous studies, SARC-F showed success to predict adverse outcomes in the latest studies as well. Recently, it has also been suggested as a reasonable screening test for frailty. In addition to the long-standing screening tests i.e., anthropometric measures, Ishii Test and Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) Questionnaire; new tests, i.e., Taiwan Risk Score for Sarcopenia, Sarcopenia Scoring Assessment Model (SarSA-Mod) and re-purposed tests, i.e., SARQoL questionnaire and fracture risk assessment tool have been investigated as potential screening tests for sarcopenia. Some of these tests performed as well as or superior to standard SARC-F.

SUMMARY

Screening of sarcopenia is critical for public health given its significant prevalence and adverse outcomes. SARC-F is the most recommended tool for screening but has low-moderate sensitivity. Studies performed recently indicate that its sensitivity can be increased by some attempts and it may be used as a reasonable test to screen frailty as well. Some other tests have also been developed/re-purposed for an efficient screening, needing to be tested for their performance and usability with future studies in different populations and settings.

Utility of the SARC-F Questionnaire for Sarcopenia Screening in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Diagnosing sarcopenia is challenging. This multicenter cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the utility of the SARC-F score system for identifying sarcopenia in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We enrolled 717 patients from five participating centers who completed the SARC-F between November 2019 and March 2021. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Japan Society of Hepatology Working Group on Sarcopenia in Liver Disease Consensus. Muscle strength was estimated using a grip dynamometer, and muscle mass was assessed using computed tomography or bioelectrical impedance analysis. The association between SARC-F and sarcopenia was analyzed using a logistic regression model. The optimal SARC-F cutoff value for identifying sarcopenia was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Of the 676 eligible patients, 15% were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The SARC-F distribution was 0 points in 63% of patients, 1 point in 17%, 2 points in 7%, 3 points in 4%, and ≥4 points in 8%. The SARC-F items of "Strength" (odds ratio (OR), 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-3.80) and "Falls" (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.48-4.03) were significantly associated with sarcopenia. The SARC-F value of 1 point showed a higher discriminative ability for identifying sarcopenia than the 4 points that are conventionally used (p < 0.001), with an area under the ROC curve of 0.68, sensitivity of 0.65, specificity of 0.68, positive predictive value of 0.27, and negative predictive value of 0.92. SARC-F is useful for identifying patients with CLD who are at risk of sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia and Frailty in Liver Cirrhosis

Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the body, and skeletal muscle atrophy results from a shift in the balance of protein synthesis and degradation toward protein breakdown. Primary sarcopenia is defined as a loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength or physical function due to aging, and secondary sarcopenia is defined as a loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength or physical function due to underlying diseases. Liver cirrhosis (LC) is one of the representative diseases which can be complicated with secondary sarcopenia. Muscle mass loss becomes more pronounced with worsening liver reserve in LC patients. While frailty encompasses a state of increased vulnerability to environmental factors, there is also the reversibility of returning to a healthy state with appropriate intervention. Several assessment criteria for sarcopenia and frailty were proposed in recent years. In 2016, the Japan Society of Hepatology created assessment criteria for sarcopenia in liver disease. In Japan, health checkups for frailty in the elderly aged 75 years or more started in April 2020. Both sarcopenia and frailty can be adverse predictors for cirrhotic patients. In this review article, we will summarize the current knowledge of sarcopenia and frailty in LC patients.