Advances in early screening and assessment tools for sarcopenia_West China Medical Journal

Authors：

CAO Dongdong ^1,2 , WANG Jida ^1,2 , ZHANG Guichi ^1,2 , FENG Huichuan ^1,2 , GUO Chen ^1,2 , SONG Bowen ^1,2 ,  LIU Aifeng ^1,2

1. Department of Orthopedics, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, P. R. China;
2. National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture, Tianjin 300381, P. R. China;

Corresponding?author：

LIU Aifeng, Email: draifeng@163.com

Keywords：

Sarcopenia; early screening; elderly; assessment tool

DOI：

10.7507/1002-0179.202509037

Video：

Export PDF Favorites Scan Get Citation

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Sarcopenia, an age-related syndrome characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, has become a prominent public health issue. Early screening is crucial for preventing disability and reducing healthcare burden. This article primarily introduces the application status and screening efficacy of commonly used tools such as the sarcopenia screening scale and its modified version, Ishii Score, Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment questionnaire, and Finger-ring Test. Furthermore, it delves into future research directions, aiming to systematically summarize the advancements in sarcopenia screening assessment tools and provide a scientific basis for early clinical identification and management.

Citation： CAO Dongdong, WANG Jida, ZHANG Guichi, FENG Huichuan, GUO Chen, SONG Bowen, LIU Aifeng. Advances in early screening and assessment tools for sarcopenia. West China Medical Journal, 2026, 41(7): 1202-1206. doi: 10.7507/1002-0179.202509037 Copy

1.	Rosenberg IH. Sarcopenia: origins and clinical relevance[J]. J Nutr, 1997, 127(5 Suppl): 990S-991S.
2.	Janssen I. Evolution of sarcopenia research[J]. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 2010, 35(5): 707-712.
3.	Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Sayer AA. Sarcopenia[J]. Lancet, 2019, 393(10191): 2636-2646.
4.	Rizzoli R, Reginster JY, Arnal JF, et al. Quality of life in sarcopenia and frailty[J]. Calcif Tissue Int, 2013, 93(2): 101-120.
5.	Anker SD, Morley JE, von Haehling S. Welcome to the ICD-10 code for sarcopenia[J]. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle, 2016, 7(5): 512-514.
6.	Avgerinou C. Sarcopenia: why it matters in general practice[J]. Br J Gen Pract, 2020, 70(693): 200-201.
7.	劉洋, 孫博然, 劉雪薇, 等. 社區老年人肌少癥篩查工具準確性的 Meta 分析[J]. 中國骨質疏松雜志, 2024, 30(3): 327-334, 368.
8.	Huang L, Shu X, Ge N, et al. The accuracy of screening instruments for sarcopenia: a diagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. Age Ageing, 2023, 52(8): afad152.
9.	Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis[J]. Age Ageing, 2019, 48(1): 16-31.
10.	Chen LK, Woo J, Assantachai P, et al. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 consensus update on sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2020, 21(3): 300-307.e2.
11.	Voelker SN, Michalopoulos N, Maier AB, et al. Reliability and concurrent validity of the SARC-F and its modified versions: a systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2021, 22(9): 1864-1876.e16.
12.	Lu JL, Ding LY, Xu Q, et al. Screening accuracy of SARC-F for sarcopenia in the elderly: a diagnostic meta-analysis[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2021, 25(2): 172-182.
13.	Barbosa-Silva TG, Menezes AM, Bielemann RM, et al. Enhancing SARC-F: improving sarcopenia screening in the clinical practice[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2016, 17(12): 1136-1141.
14.	Yang M, Hu X, Xie L, et al. Screening sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults: SARC-F vs SARC-F combined with calf circumference (SARC-CalF)[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2018, 19(3): 277.e1-277.e8.
15.	Yalcin A, Gokce B, Turhan G, et al. Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of the SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and Ishii tests for diagnosis of sarcopenia in hospitalized older patients: a cross-sectional study[J]. Nutr Clin Pract, 2024, 39(6): 1396-1405.
16.	Krzymińska-Siemaszko R, Deskur-?mielecka E, Kalu?niak-Szymanowska A, et al. Comparison of diagnostic performance of SARC-F and its two modified versions (SARC-CalF and SARC-F+EBM) in community-dwelling older adults from Poland[J]. Clin Interv Aging, 2020, 15: 583-594.
17.	Guo JY, Yu K, Li CW, et al. Validity of the modified versions of SARC-F+EBM for sarcopenia screening and diagnosis in China: the PPLSS study[J]. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2024, 33(1): 94-1013.
18.	Krzymińska-Siemaszko R, Deskur-?mielecka E, Kalu?niak-Szymanowska A, et al. Comparison of diagnostic value of the SARC-F and its four modified versions in polish community-dwelling older adults[J]. Clin Interv Aging, 2023, 18: 783-797.
19.	Ishii S, Tanaka T, Shibasaki K, et al. Development of a simple screening test for sarcopenia in older adults[J]. Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2014, 14(Suppl 1): 93-101.
20.	Chen M, Lei X, Zhu T, et al. Evaluation of the accuracy of six simple screening tools for sarcopenia in schizophrenic patients[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2022, 26(6): 571-575.
21.	Erdogan T, Catikkas NM, Oren MM, et al. Ishii test for screening sarcopenia: performance in community-dwelling older adults[J]. Aging Clin Exp Res, 2022, 34(4): 785-791.
22.	Zhu L, Li J, Li M, et al. Accuracy of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and Ishii test in assessing severe sarcopenia in older adults in nursing homes[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2022, 26(6): 576-580.
23.	Lin X, Li M, Li Z, et al. Evaluation of four methods for the assessment of sarcopenia in older adults in nursing homes[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2021, 25(9): 1119-1123.
24.	Chen X, Hou L, Zhang Y, et al. The accuracy of the Ishii score chart in predicting sarcopenia in the elderly community in Chengdu[J]. BMC Geriatr, 2021, 21(1): 296.
25.	Guo Q, Chen Q, Chen K. Comparative analysis of SARC-F-EBM, Ishii test, and six other screening tools for sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional diagnostic study[J]. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 24679.
26.	Rossi AP, Micciolo R, Rubele S, et al. Assessing the risk of sarcopenia in the elderly: the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) questionnaire[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2017, 21(6): 743-749.
27.	Pantouvaki A, Kastanis G, Patelarou E, et al. Greek translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment questionnaire, to evaluate sarcopenia in greek elderly at a hospital setting[J]. Nurs Rep, 2023, 13(1): 404-411.
28.	Ribeiro LS, Souza BGA, de Lima JB, et al. Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian Portuguese-translated version of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) questionnaire in cancer patients[J]. Clin Pract, 2021, 11(2): 395-403.
29.	Krzymińska-Siemaszko R, Deskur-?mielecka E, Styszyński A, et al. Polish translation and validation of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) questionnaire to assess nutritional and non-nutritional risk factors of sarcopenia in older adults[J]. Nutrients, 2021, 13(4): 1061.
30.	Yang M, Hu X, Xie L, et al. Comparing Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment With SARC-F for screening sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2019, 20(1): 53-57.
31.	Rossi AP, Caliari C, Urbani S, et al. Sarcopenia risk evaluation in a sample of hospitalized elderly men and women: combined use of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) and the SARC-F[J]. Nutrients, 2021, 13(2): 635.
32.	Tanaka T, Takahashi K, Akishita M, et al. “Yubi-wakka” (finger-ring) test: a practical self-screening method for sarcopenia, and a predictor of disability and mortality among Japanese community-dwelling older adults[J]. Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2018, 18(2): 224-232.
33.	Lawongsa K, Srisuwan P, Tejavanija S, et al. Sensitivity and specificity of Yubi-wakka (finger-ring) screening method for sarcopenia among older Thai adults[J]. Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2024, 24(3): 263-268.
34.	溫鵬天, 張瑞麗, 李慧娟, 等. 指環測試在社區老年人肌少癥篩查中的應用[J]. 中華護理教育, 2021, 18(3): 275-278.
35.	Piodena-Aportadera MRB, Lau S, Tan CN, et al. Yubi-Wakka test for sarcopenia screening in the community: comparative agreement, diagnostic performance and validity with calf circumference measurements[J]. J Frailty Aging, 2024, 13(2): 98-107.
36.	Lin YH, Lee KC, Tzeng YL, et al. Comparison of four screening methods for sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults: a diagnostic accuracy study[J]. Geriatr Nurs, 2023, 49: 157-163.

1. Rosenberg IH. Sarcopenia: origins and clinical relevance[J]. J Nutr, 1997, 127(5 Suppl): 990S-991S.
2. Janssen I. Evolution of sarcopenia research[J]. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 2010, 35(5): 707-712.
3. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Sayer AA. Sarcopenia[J]. Lancet, 2019, 393(10191): 2636-2646.
4. Rizzoli R, Reginster JY, Arnal JF, et al. Quality of life in sarcopenia and frailty[J]. Calcif Tissue Int, 2013, 93(2): 101-120.
5. Anker SD, Morley JE, von Haehling S. Welcome to the ICD-10 code for sarcopenia[J]. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle, 2016, 7(5): 512-514.
6. Avgerinou C. Sarcopenia: why it matters in general practice[J]. Br J Gen Pract, 2020, 70(693): 200-201.
7. 劉洋, 孫博然, 劉雪薇, 等. 社區老年人肌少癥篩查工具準確性的 Meta 分析[J]. 中國骨質疏松雜志, 2024, 30(3): 327-334, 368.
8. Huang L, Shu X, Ge N, et al. The accuracy of screening instruments for sarcopenia: a diagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. Age Ageing, 2023, 52(8): afad152.
9. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Bahat G, Bauer J, et al. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis[J]. Age Ageing, 2019, 48(1): 16-31.
10. Chen LK, Woo J, Assantachai P, et al. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 consensus update on sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2020, 21(3): 300-307.e2.
11. Voelker SN, Michalopoulos N, Maier AB, et al. Reliability and concurrent validity of the SARC-F and its modified versions: a systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2021, 22(9): 1864-1876.e16.
12. Lu JL, Ding LY, Xu Q, et al. Screening accuracy of SARC-F for sarcopenia in the elderly: a diagnostic meta-analysis[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2021, 25(2): 172-182.
13. Barbosa-Silva TG, Menezes AM, Bielemann RM, et al. Enhancing SARC-F: improving sarcopenia screening in the clinical practice[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2016, 17(12): 1136-1141.
14. Yang M, Hu X, Xie L, et al. Screening sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults: SARC-F vs SARC-F combined with calf circumference (SARC-CalF)[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2018, 19(3): 277.e1-277.e8.
15. Yalcin A, Gokce B, Turhan G, et al. Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of the SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and Ishii tests for diagnosis of sarcopenia in hospitalized older patients: a cross-sectional study[J]. Nutr Clin Pract, 2024, 39(6): 1396-1405.
16. Krzymińska-Siemaszko R, Deskur-?mielecka E, Kalu?niak-Szymanowska A, et al. Comparison of diagnostic performance of SARC-F and its two modified versions (SARC-CalF and SARC-F+EBM) in community-dwelling older adults from Poland[J]. Clin Interv Aging, 2020, 15: 583-594.
17. Guo JY, Yu K, Li CW, et al. Validity of the modified versions of SARC-F+EBM for sarcopenia screening and diagnosis in China: the PPLSS study[J]. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2024, 33(1): 94-1013.
18. Krzymińska-Siemaszko R, Deskur-?mielecka E, Kalu?niak-Szymanowska A, et al. Comparison of diagnostic value of the SARC-F and its four modified versions in polish community-dwelling older adults[J]. Clin Interv Aging, 2023, 18: 783-797.
19. Ishii S, Tanaka T, Shibasaki K, et al. Development of a simple screening test for sarcopenia in older adults[J]. Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2014, 14(Suppl 1): 93-101.
20. Chen M, Lei X, Zhu T, et al. Evaluation of the accuracy of six simple screening tools for sarcopenia in schizophrenic patients[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2022, 26(6): 571-575.
21. Erdogan T, Catikkas NM, Oren MM, et al. Ishii test for screening sarcopenia: performance in community-dwelling older adults[J]. Aging Clin Exp Res, 2022, 34(4): 785-791.
22. Zhu L, Li J, Li M, et al. Accuracy of SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and Ishii test in assessing severe sarcopenia in older adults in nursing homes[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2022, 26(6): 576-580.
23. Lin X, Li M, Li Z, et al. Evaluation of four methods for the assessment of sarcopenia in older adults in nursing homes[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2021, 25(9): 1119-1123.
24. Chen X, Hou L, Zhang Y, et al. The accuracy of the Ishii score chart in predicting sarcopenia in the elderly community in Chengdu[J]. BMC Geriatr, 2021, 21(1): 296.
25. Guo Q, Chen Q, Chen K. Comparative analysis of SARC-F-EBM, Ishii test, and six other screening tools for sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional diagnostic study[J]. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 24679.
26. Rossi AP, Micciolo R, Rubele S, et al. Assessing the risk of sarcopenia in the elderly: the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) questionnaire[J]. J Nutr Health Aging, 2017, 21(6): 743-749.
27. Pantouvaki A, Kastanis G, Patelarou E, et al. Greek translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment questionnaire, to evaluate sarcopenia in greek elderly at a hospital setting[J]. Nurs Rep, 2023, 13(1): 404-411.
28. Ribeiro LS, Souza BGA, de Lima JB, et al. Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian Portuguese-translated version of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) questionnaire in cancer patients[J]. Clin Pract, 2021, 11(2): 395-403.
29. Krzymińska-Siemaszko R, Deskur-?mielecka E, Styszyński A, et al. Polish translation and validation of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) questionnaire to assess nutritional and non-nutritional risk factors of sarcopenia in older adults[J]. Nutrients, 2021, 13(4): 1061.
30. Yang M, Hu X, Xie L, et al. Comparing Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment With SARC-F for screening sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults[J]. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2019, 20(1): 53-57.
31. Rossi AP, Caliari C, Urbani S, et al. Sarcopenia risk evaluation in a sample of hospitalized elderly men and women: combined use of the Mini Sarcopenia Risk Assessment (MSRA) and the SARC-F[J]. Nutrients, 2021, 13(2): 635.
32. Tanaka T, Takahashi K, Akishita M, et al. “Yubi-wakka” (finger-ring) test: a practical self-screening method for sarcopenia, and a predictor of disability and mortality among Japanese community-dwelling older adults[J]. Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2018, 18(2): 224-232.
33. Lawongsa K, Srisuwan P, Tejavanija S, et al. Sensitivity and specificity of Yubi-wakka (finger-ring) screening method for sarcopenia among older Thai adults[J]. Geriatr Gerontol Int, 2024, 24(3): 263-268.
34. 溫鵬天, 張瑞麗, 李慧娟, 等. 指環測試在社區老年人肌少癥篩查中的應用[J]. 中華護理教育, 2021, 18(3): 275-278.
35. Piodena-Aportadera MRB, Lau S, Tan CN, et al. Yubi-Wakka test for sarcopenia screening in the community: comparative agreement, diagnostic performance and validity with calf circumference measurements[J]. J Frailty Aging, 2024, 13(2): 98-107.
36. Lin YH, Lee KC, Tzeng YL, et al. Comparison of four screening methods for sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults: a diagnostic accuracy study[J]. Geriatr Nurs, 2023, 49: 157-163.

Previous Article
Research progress on osteoporotic acetabular fractures in the elderly
Next Article
Research advances in the mechanisms of infection and antibiotic resistance mediated by outer membrane vesicle

West China Medical Journal

Advances in early screening and assessment tools for sarcopenia

Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Previous Article

Next Article

Format

Content