SARC-F scores correlated with low physical performance and muscle strength in older Thai adults

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the correlation between SARC-F scores, physical performance, muscle strength and relative skeletal muscle indices in older Thai adults.
Materials and Methods The current study recruited male and female patients over 60 years old who were then receiving treatment at Burapha University Hospital. These patients could walk without any walking aids. The clinical data was collected from January to July, 2017. Specifically, three factors of the examinations were administrated: X-ray screening by DEXA, and the measurements of muscle strength as well as physical performance, respectively.
Results One hundred and eighty-seven patients took part in this study, with the overall age range between 65 and 69 years old, and average weight between 56 and 63 kilograms. Of the 187 patients, 159 of them (85%) were female. According to the AWGS (Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia) the definition of sarcopenia is < 5.4 kg/m2, with a SARC-F score < 4 points. Physical performance was assessed with a Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and revealed a 6-m gait speed at 10.7 S.D. 3.7 seconds for the normal group, but was 21 S.D. 8.1 seconds in the sarcopenic group. The 6-m gait speed showed 1.5 S.D. 1.4 m/seconds in the normal group, but 3.7 S.D. 2.6 m/seconds in the sarcopenic group. In addition, the muscle strength test (tested with a grip dynamometer) revealed that the average grip strength score in the normal group was 10.3 S.D. 4 kg, compared with 7.3 S.D. 4.5 kg in the sarcopenic group.
Conclusions The results revealed a lower physical performance and reduced muscle strength in sarcopenia patients in comparison to the normal group. This evidence also suggests a higher risk of fall incidents in patients with sarcopenia.