Development and validation of a screening tool for sarcopenia in Chinese nursing home residents

Sarcopenia, characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function, is a critical health issue in nursing home residents. Given the high prevalence of sarcopenia in care settings, effective screening is crucial. This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of two conventional sarcopenia screening tools, SARC-F and SARC-CalF, and developed an alternative tool, SEAC, specifically for nursing home residents. In a sample of 679 older adults from Zhejiang Province, SARC-CalF exhibited better sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy compared to SARC-F. The SEAC tool, incorporating strength, exhaustion, assistance in walking, and calf circumference, demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity among the three screening tools. These findings suggest that SEAC could serve as a valuable tool for large-scale sarcopenia screening in nursing homes, potentially improving early detection and management of sarcopenia in this vulnerable population.