ArticleRMD open2026
Association between SARC-F as a self-report screening tool for sarcopenia and muscle strength, physical performance, daily activity, patient-reported outcomes and body composition in patients with spondyloarthritis.
Article in RMD open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundThis study aimed to explore the association of the sarcopenia questionnaire Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, Falls (SARC-F) with muscle strength, physical performance, daily activity, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and body composition in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
methodsIn this cross-sectional study, patient and disease characteristics including physical function, performance measures and body composition assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were analysed. Variables were compared between patients with a SARC-F score ≥4 and <4, higher versus lower sarcopenia risk. Linear regression examined associations, adjusted for age and sex.
resultsOverall, 54 of 213 patients with SpA (65.7% axSpA, 34.3% PsA) had a SARC-F score ≥4 (24.4%). DXA identified sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in 4 patients each (7.7%). Patients with SARC-F scores ≥4 were older, predominantly female or obese, had longer disease duration, higher disease activity, lower physical performance, decreased muscle strength and daily activity and more unfavourable body composition. Total SARC-F score was consistently associated with muscle strength, physical performance, PROs and DXA components. Higher body mass index and patient global assessment were independently associated with higher SARC-F scores. The SARC-F ≥4 threshold showed moderate specificity (76%) but low sensitivity (50%) for DXA-defined sarcopenia, with a high negative predictive value (97%).
conclusionsSARC-F was significantly associated with disease activity, muscle strength and physical performance, but showed limited ability to identify DXA-defined sarcopenia. Further research is needed to clarify its clinical utility for risk stratification in rheumatic diseases.
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