AB0154 USAGE OF THE SARC-F QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SARCOPENIA SCREENING IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background: Sarcopenia, characterized by low muscle strength and low muscle quantity or quality and associated with increased risks of falling and mortality. The prevalence of sarcopenia is 37% among patients with RA [1]. However, in clinical practice settings, sarcopenia among RA patients remains underdiagnosed. The SARC-F questionnaire [2] was recommended by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) before performing muscle strength tests and assessment muscle mass. Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the SARC-F questionnaire for the screening of sarcopenia (SP) in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: 83 women (average age 59±8 years) with RA without aseptic bone necrosis, joint replacement and severe comorbidities were recruited. All patients were interviewed with the SARC-F questionnaire. The summation score ≥ 4 corresponded to cut-off for suspected sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was evaluated using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), which included dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), handgrip strength or chair stand test, and gait speed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative prognostic values of the SARC-F questionnaire were estimated. Results: Confirmed SP was diagnosed in 20 (24%) RA patients, who had low muscle strength and mass. When conventional cut-off point (≥4) for SARC-F questionnaire was applied, only 30% of the patients with SP met this condition (sensitivity 30%, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 13% to 54%), and 41% of the patients without SP did not meet this condition (specificity 41%, 95% CI 29% to 54%). Positive and negative prognostic values were 14% (95% CI 6% to 29%) and 65% (95% CI 48% to 79%), respectively. Conclusion: The SARC-F questionnaire alone is not adequate for screening of SP in RA patient. It is necessary to develop other simple screening methods that can easily be carried out in real clinical practice to identify individuals with possible SP for further diagnostic tests. References: [1]Torii M, Hashimoto M, Hanai A, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Modern Rheumatology, 2018;29(4):589-595. doi:10.1080/14397595.2018.1510565. [2]Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. Writing Group for the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), and the Extended Group for EWGSOP2. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age Ageing. 2019;48(1):16-31. doi:10.1093/ageing/afy169. Disclosure of Interests: None declared