Association between the finger-ring test and quality of life in community-dwelling older women: cross-sectional study

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical function. Screening or early detection of sarcopenia in community settings is crucial to prevent associated adverse outcomes. The finger-ring test offers a simple self-screening method, but its clinical relevance beyond diagnostic accuracy remains underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between the finger-ring test and various indicators of sarcopenia, including muscle mass, strength, physical performance, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in community-dwelling older women.

One hundred forty-five women aged 65-80 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Participants were categorized into three groups ("bigger", "just fit", and "smaller") based on finger-ring test results. Muscle mass and strength were measured via bioimpedance analysis and handgrip strength, respectively. Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. HRQoL was evaluated using the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire.

The "smaller" group had significantly lower skeletal muscle mass, handgrip strength, and total SarQoL scores (Total overall: "bigger", 80.44 ± 9.74; "just fit", 77.54 ± 10.83; "smaller", 71.83 ± 12.89, post-hoc p = 0.003 vs. 'bigger'), particularly in the domains of functionality and daily activities. Although no significant differences were observed in objective physical performance measures (SPPB and TUG), subjective HRQoL declined according to the results of the finger-ring test. This association between the finger-ring test and total HRQoL remained significant after adjusting for age and weight. When applying a threshold of ≥ 1 point ("just fit" or "smaller"), the finger-ring test demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100% for identifying sarcopenia, supporting its potential role as a simple rule-out screening tool.

The finger-ring test may indicate both reduced muscle mass and strength, along with reduced HRQoL. These findings suggest that the finger-ring test is a useful preliminary rule-out screening tool to exclude individuals unlikely to be at risk, and it may also help predict health-related quality of life.