Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: Assessing Surgical Frailty with Point-of-Care Ultrasound of Quadriceps Muscles
Published on: July 26, 2024
Correlation between SARC-F Score and Ultrasound-Measured Thigh Muscle Thickness in Older Hospitalized Cancer Patients
T L N Gomes1, T C Borges, C Pichard
1Gustavo Duarte Pimentel, Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Goiás. Rua 227, Quadra 68 s/n°, Setor Leste Universitário, CEP 74605080. Goiânia, GO. Brasil.
Background:
Strength, Assistance for walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) score is frequently used for screening the sarcopenia risk in older people. However, the agreement between SARC-F and loss of ultrasound-derived muscle thickness in hospitalized older cancer patients is unexplored.
Objective:
The primary objective was to evaluate the relationship between the SARC-F score and ultrasound-derived muscle thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius in older hospitalised cancer patients. The secondary objective was to identify the presence of sarcopenia.
Measurements:
A cross-sectional study enrolled forty-one older hospitalised cancer patients ongoing chemotherapy or surgical treatment. Body weight (kg) was measured using a digital scale and height using a portable stadiometer to assess body mass index. SARC-F was performed to assess and classify sarcopenia risk (with (SARC-F: ≥4), without (SARC-F: <4). US-derived muscle thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius was assessed using a portable ultrasound. Relationship between the SARC-F and muscle thickness was tested using Pearson´s correlation and Bland-Altman analyses.
Results:
Approximately, 46.3% of the patients presented sarcopenia and a lower non-significant muscle thickness of rectus femoris and vastus intermedius (SARC-F ≥4: 18.54±6.28 vs. SARC-F <4: 22.22±9.16 mm, p=0.07). There was a moderate negative correlation between SARC-F and muscle thickness (r=-0.40, p=0.004). Additionally, Bland-Altman plots no found systematic bias risk between SARC-F and ultrasound-derived muscle thickness.
Conclusions:
Approximately, 46.3% of older hospitalized cancer patients presented sarcopenia. Additionally, we found a moderate inverse correlation and no systematic bias risk between SARC-F and ultrasound-measured muscle thickness.
