THU0621-HPR SARC-F SCALE ON SCREENING SARCOPENIA AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTRITIS
Authors: M. Karapinar, Z. Baskurt, F. Baskurt, M. Unal, S. Ercan, C. Cetİn
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Sarcopenia has been defined as a loss of muscle mass and consequently of muscle function. In patients affected by osteoarthritis (OA) a more likely and accelerated development of sarcopenia has been reported. The SARC-F is a simple sarcopenia screening tool includes five assessment items: strength, assistance walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls. SARC-F ≥ 4 is defined as sarcopenia. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the utility of SARC-F in the patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Patients with radiographic and clinic evidence of tibiofemoral OA (Kellgren-Lawrence score ≥2) were included. Sarcopenia were identified using the SARC-F scale. Patients with a total score 4 and higher than 4 were classified as having sarcopenia. Patients were assessed by The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), four-meter walking test, hand grip test, shortened version of the falls efficacy scale-international (the short FES-I) and EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D). A multiple linear regression model was used to identify independent predictors of SARC-F. Results: A total 76 patients with median age 61 ranged 55 to 78 years old (72.4% female) were screened in this study (Table 1). Of the sample, 38.1% of patients were sarcopenic as a SARC-F (Figure 1). Through multiple regression analyses, SARC-F scores was significantly associated with four-meter walking test, hand grip, WOMAC-Function, EQ-5D and short FES-I describing between 57% and 63% of the variance (adjusted R 2 ) (Table 2). Also, poor physical performance and grip strength were associated with SARC-F ≥ 4 independently (P&lt;0.005). Table 1. Summary Table of Characteristics of sarcopenic vs non-sarcopenic patients with knee OA Measures Sarcopenic patients with knee OA (n:47 ) Sarc-F≥4 Non-Sarcopenic patients with knee OA (n:29 ) Sarc-F&lt;4 p value φ Age, mean(SD) 62.7(6.9) 59.3 (6.9) 0.294 BMI, mean(SD) 27.84 (9.56) 28.54 (8.38) 0.327 WOMAC, mean(SD) 43.52 (10.83) 28.06 (14.9) 0.001* GRADE (K-L ) med (min-max) 3(2-4) 2(2-4) 0.008* Hand Grip, mean(SD) 20 33 (4.89) 28.22 (7.13) 0.001* 4 m Walking Test , mean(SD) 11.88 (4.24) 9.55 (4.30) 0.001* EQ-5D, mean(SD) 9.41 (1.52) 7. 13 (1.75) 0.001* EQ-5D-VAS, mean(SD) 44.31 (14.12) 66.90 (16.25) 0.001* Short FES-I, mean(SD) 18. 06 (9.45) 9.04 (5.32) 0.001* Number of falls the past year, mean(SD) 4.01 (1.24) 3.14 (2.74) 0.674 φ Mann Whitney U test; *p&lt; 0.05; BMI, Body mass index; WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index EQ-5D, EuroQol-5 Dimension; FES-I, Falls Efficacy Scale-International Table 2. Multiple linear regression analysis for SARC-F β t P value 95% Confidence Interval (lower-upper bound ) Walking Speed 0.11 1.20 0.23 -0.31/ 0.12 Hand Grip -0.35 -1.73 0.04 -0.20 / 0.01 WOMAC-Function 0.26 2.31 0.01 0.00 / 0.05 Short FES-I 0.18 1.96 0.01 0.04 / 0.01 EQ-5D 0.22 2.29 0.02 0.02 / 0.39 EQ-5D VAS R 2 = 0.61 -0.24 -2.73 0.001 -0.04 / -0.00 WOMAC, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, EQ-5D, EuroQol-5 Dimension; FES-I, Falls Efficacy Scale-International Figure 1. Sarcopenic vs non-sarcopenic patients according to sex Conclusion: In this study, sarcopenia defined by the SARC-F questionnaire has a predictive value of clinical characteristics of patients to predict sarcopenia parameters and poor physical performance in patients with knee OA. References: [1]Papalia, R., Zampogna, B., Torre, G., Lanotte, A., Vasta, S., Albo, E., ... &amp; Denaro, V. (2014). Sarcopenia and its relationship with osteoarthritis: risk factor or direct consequence?. Musculoskeletal surgery , 98 (1), 9-14. Disclosure of Interests: None declared