SARC-F Questionnaire for Sarcopenia

The SARC-F questionnaire is a screening tool that can be rapidly implemented by clinicians to identify probable sarcopenic patients. The questionnaire screens patients for self-reported signs suggestive of sarcopenia, which include deficiencies in strength, walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and experiencing falls. Each of the self-reported parameters receives a minimum and maximum score of 0 and 2, respectively, with the greatest maximum SARC-F score being 10.

SARC-F Screen for Sarcopenia

SARC-F
Component	Question	Scoring
1. Strength:	How much difficulty do you have in lifting and carrying 10 pounds?	None 0 Some 1 A lot or unable 2
2. Assistance in walking:	How much difficulty do you have walking across a room?	None 0 Some 1 A lot, use aids, or unable 2
3. Rise from a chair:	How much difficulty do you have transferring from a chair or bed?	None 0 Some 1 A lot or unable without help 2
4. Climb stairs:	How much difficulty do you have climbing a flight of 10 stairs?	None 0 Some 1 A lot or unable 2
5. Falls:	How many times have you fallen in the past year?	None 0 1ess than 3 falls 1 4 or more falls 2

Data suggests that a SARC-F score of ≥4 best predicts the need for further, more comprehensive evaluation.

 

References:

1. Malmstrom TK, Morley JE. SARC-F: a simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013 Aug;14(8):531-2. [Medline]
2. Beaudart C, McCloskey E, Bruyère O, Cesari M, Rolland Y, Rizzoli R, Araujo de Carvalho I, Amuthavalli Thiyagarajan J, Bautmans I, Bertière MC, Brandi ML, Al-Daghri NM, Burlet N, Cavalier E, Cerreta F, Cherubini A, Fielding R, Gielen E, Landi F, Petermans J, Reginster JY, Visser M, Kanis J, Cooper C. Sarcopenia in daily practice: assessment and management. BMC Geriatr. 2016 Oct 5;16(1):170. [Medline]
3. Huang T, Li C, Chen F, Xie D, Yang C, Chen Y, Wang J, Li J, Zheng F. Prevalence and risk factors of osteosarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr. 2023 Jun 15;23(1):369. [Medline]

 

Created Jun 28, 2023.