SARC-F

Strength, Ambulation, Rising from a chair, Stair climbing and history of Falling

Purpose : Screening test for sarcopenia

Admin time :  5 min

User Friendly :  High

Administered by : GP or nurse 

Content : There are 5 SARC-F components: Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs and Falls.

The scores range from 0 to 10, with 0 to 2 points for each component.

A score equal to or greater than 4 is predictive of sarcopenia and poor outcome

Author : Malmstrom TK, Morley JE, 2013

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Copyright : Free to use with author reference

SARC-F

Advantages:

• free to use

• requires very little training to administer

• very good at predicting the physical performance and muscle strength components of the EWGSOP definition

• high sensitivity when combined with MRSA

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Disadvantages: 

• ​the answers require a subjective evaluation made by the subject or the  healthcare worker administering the test

• the selected items are not specifically related to muscle mass or muscle strength, but more to physical function and disability

Accuracy : 

sensitivity 94,0 % and specificity 40,0 % (Rossi AP, 2021)

SARC-F and MRSA 7 item together : sensitivity 100 % and specificity 63,6 % (Rossi AP, 2021)