Diagnostic performance of sarcopenia screening tests in chronic lung disease patients

Abstract

Objective: Sarcopenia, the gradual decline in skeletal muscle mass (SMM), strength, and functionality, has negative health consequences such as premature death and disability. It is prevalent in chronic lung disease (CLD). Timely recognition of sarcopenia is required for focused therapy. This study sought to analyze the rate of sarcopenia in patients with CLD and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the sarcopenia screening tests: the SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and Ishii tests. Materials and Methods: This study comprised individuals diagnosed with CLD and referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. Sarcopenia was evaluated based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria (EWGSOP and EWGSOP2), utilizing handgrip strength, SMM index, and gait speed. The diagnostic accuracy of screening tests (SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and Ishii) was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the curve (AUC) in the Receiver Ooperating Ccharacteristics. Results: A total of 227 patients, with a mean age of 59.00 +/- 13.98 years, of whom 50.7% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), were included. The rate of probable sarcopenia was 41.2%, confirmed sarcopenia 2.5%, and severe sarcopenia 0.5%. The Ishii test exhibited the highest sensitivity (71.59%) and specificity (90.48%) for probable sarcopenia (AUC: 0.810); it also showed 100% sensitivity and substantial specificity (78.57%, AUC: 0.893) for confirmed sarcopenia. Conclusion: Sarcopenia is highly prevalent in CLD patients, underscoring the need for routine screening. Among the screening tools, the Ishii test exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy, making it a valuable tool for early detection. Routine assessment and targeted interventions for sarcopenia could improve functional outcomes in CLD patients.