title: Utility of SARC-F for Assessing Physical Function in Elderly Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A simple and inexpensive tool for screening of sarcopenia would be helpful for clinicians. The present study was performed to determine whether the SARC-F questionnaire is useful in screening of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) for impaired physical function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 235 Japanese patients ≥65 years old admitted to our hospital for CVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  SARC-F, handgrip strength, leg strength, respiratory muscle strength, standing balance, usual gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, and 6-minute walking distance were measured before discharge from hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to SARC-F score: SARC-F < 4 (nonsarcopenia group) and SARC-F ≥ 4 (sarcopenia group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sarcopenia prevalence rate was 25.5% and increased with age (P trend < .001). The sarcopenia group (SARC-F score ≥ 4) had significantly lower handgrip strength, leg strength, and respiratory muscle strength, poorer standing balance, slower usual gait speed, lower SPPB score, and shorter 6-minute walking distance compared to the nonsarcopenia group (SARC-F score < 4). Patients in the sarcopenia group had consistently poorer physical function even after adjusting for covariates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SARC-F questionnaire is a useful screening tool for impaired physical function in elderly CVD patients. These findings support the use of the SARC-F for screening in hospital settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan. Electronic address: k-kamiya@kitasato-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan; Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryota
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nozaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan; Department of Rehabilitation, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Minako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaoka-Tojo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan; Department of Rehabilitation, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuhiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan; Department of Rehabilitation, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ako
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: SARC-F; Sarcopenia; cardiovascular disease; elderly; physical function; screening