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Correlation Between SARC-F Score and Ultrasound-Measured Thigh Muscle Thickness in Older Hospitalized Cancer Patients

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Background

Strength, Assistance for walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) score is frequently used for screening the sarcopenia risk in older people. However, the agreement between SARC-F and loss of ultrasound-derived muscle thickness in hospitalized older cancer patients is unexplored.

Objective

The primary objective was to evaluate the relationship between the SARC-F score and ultrasound-derived muscle thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius in older hospitalised cancer patients. The secondary objective was to identify the presence of sarcopenia.

Measurements

A cross-sectional study enrolled forty-one older hospitalised cancer patients ongoing chemotherapy or surgical treatment. Body weight (kg) was measured using a digital scale and height using a portable stadiometer to assess body mass index. SARC-F was performed to assess and classify sarcopenia risk (with (SARC-F: &2265;4), without (SARC-F: <4). US-derived muscle thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius was assessed using a portable ultrasound. Relationship between the SARC-F and muscle thickness was tested using Pearson’s correlation and Bland-Altman analyses.

Results

Approximately, 46.3% of the patients presented sarcopenia and a lower non-significant muscle thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius (SARC-F &2265;4: 18.54±6.28 vs. SARC-F <4: 22.22±9.16 mm, p=0.07). There was a moderate negative correlation between SARC-F and muscle thickness (r=−0.40, p=0.004). Additionally, Bland-Altman plots no found systematic bias risk between SARC-F and ultrasound-derived muscle thickness.

Conclusions

Approximately, 46.3% of older hospitalized cancer patients presented sarcopenia. Additionally, we found a moderate inverse correlation and no systematic bias risk between SARC-F and ultrasound-measured muscle thickness.

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Acknowledgements

TLNG and TCB would like to thank the Capes, Brazil. GDP would like to The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil, 312252/2019-6).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Research in Clinical Nutrition and Sports (Labince), Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil

    T. L. N. Gomes, T. C. Borges & G. D. Pimentel

  2. Clinical Nutrition, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

    C. Pichard

Authors
  1. T. L. N. Gomes
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  2. T. C. Borges
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  3. C. Pichard
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  4. G. D. Pimentel
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Contributions

TLNG and GDP performed the study design. TLNG, and TCB collected the data of manuscript. GDP drafted the manuscript. TLNG, TCB, CP and GDP contributed in critical discussion of data and reviewed the paper. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. D. Pimentel.

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Conflict of interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Gomes, T.L.N., Borges, T.C., Pichard, C. et al. Correlation Between SARC-F Score and Ultrasound-Measured Thigh Muscle Thickness in Older Hospitalized Cancer Patients. J Nutr Health Aging 24, 1128–1130 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1524-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1524-z

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