Sarcopenia screening and clinical outcomes in surgical patients: A longitudinal study

Background: The SARC-CalF was developed as a screening tool for sarcopenia, but little is still known about its validity in surgical patients. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prognostic value of SARC-CalF in predicting clinical outcomes in patients admitted for any elective surgery in a hospital.

Methods: Cohort study with prospective data collection of surgical patients ≥18 years of age screened for sarcopenia within 48 h of admission using the SARC-CalF (score ≥11 points classified patients at suggestive signs of sarcopenia). A standard questionnaire for sociodemographic and clinical data was filled and anthropometric data were measured. Clinical outcomes of interest comprised postoperative complications, length of postoperative hospital stay (LPHS), length of hospital stay (LOS), and in-hospital death.

Results: Among the 303 patients admitted for elective surgery across various specialties (58.2 ± 14.6 years; 53.8% men) included, 21.5% presented suggestive signs of sarcopenia (SARC-CalF ≥11). LOS (16.0 [10.0-29.0] vs 13.5 [8.0-22.0] days; P < 0.05) and LPHS (6.0 [3.0-14.5] vs 5.0 [1.0-8.2] days; P < 0.05) were longer in patients with SARC-CalF ≥11 compared with those without this condition. The frequency of severe postoperative complications (23.1% vs 8.8%; P < 0.05) and the incidence of death (12.3% vs 2.9%; P < 0.05) were higher in patients with SARC-CalF ≥11. However, in the multivariate analyses, no association between SARC-CalF ≥11 and clinical outcomes was found.

Conclusion: Signs of sarcopenia (SARC-CalF ≥11) were present in >20% of patients who were hospitalized for any elective surgery, but it was not an independent predictor of extended hospital stay, complications, and death.