Translation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the SARC-F Questionnaire to Assess Sarcopenia in Older People

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging health & aging, 2019-06, Vol.23 (6), p.518-524
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Rodríguez, Dolores, Marco, E., Dávalos-Yerovi, V., López-Escobar, J., Messaggi-Sartor, M., Barrera, C., Ronquillo-Moreno, N., Vázquez-Ibar, O., Calle, A., Inzitari, M., Piotrowicz, K., Duran, X., Escalada, F., Muniesa, J. M., Duarte, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Adaptation; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemiology; Female; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Geriatrics; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Health care; Health economics; Hospitals; Humans; Independent Living; Language; Male; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosciences; Nutrition; Older people; Patients; Primary Care Medicine; Public health; Quality of Life Research; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; Sarcopenia; Sarcopenia - diagnosis; Self report; Subacute care; Surveys and Questionnaires; Womens health; Working groups
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1007/s12603-019-1204-z

Objectives The revised European consensus on sarcopenia definition and diagnosis (EWGSOP2) includes the SARC-F questionnaire, the most valid and consistent sarcopenia screening tool, as the mandatory first step. Our aim was the translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the SARC-F questionnaire as a culturally-responsive Spanish-language version for the European population. Study design Cross-sectional descriptive study, applying the two-step WHO methodology for translation and cross-cultural adaptation of health questionnaires, and harmonization with the Mexican-Spanish version. European Union Geriatric Medicine Society recommendations for SARC-F validation in European languages were considered. Participants Outpatient clinics of a university hospital. Inclusion criteria: stable, ambulatory (including aids), community-dwelling population ≥65 years old. Main outcome measures The self-reported 5-item SARC-F questionnaire was administered; scores ≥4 indicated sarcopenia. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy-likelihood ratios, predictive values, and kappa statistics were calculated and consecutively compared with European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and EWGSOP2 criteria. Results This Spanish version, administered in an average 70s, has adequate internal consistency (Cronbach alpha=0.779). For the validation study, 90 (43.3%) of 208 potentially eligible subjects (81.4 ± 5.9 years old, 75.6% women) were included. SARC-F identified 51 (56.7%) subjects with sarcopenia and 39 (43.3%) without the disease. Prevalence was 17.8% per EWGSOP and 25.6% per EWGSOP2 (58% accuracy and fair agreement: sensitivity, 783%; specificity, 50.8%) . Conclusions SARC-F is a feasible tool, suitable for bedside assessment in community-dwelling older patients. Wide diffusion of this culturally-responsible SARC-F Spanish version is expected as EWGSOP2 is adopted and sarcopenia assessment is broadly implemented in Spain.