THU0621-HPR SARC-F SCALE ON SCREENING SARCOPENIA AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTRITIS

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 R2) (Table 2). Also, poor physical performance and grip strength were associated with SARC-F ≥ 4 independently (P 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., ... & 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