Association Between SARC-F and Clinical Outcomes in Older Adults With Cardiovascular Diseases Admitted to the Emergency Room: A Longitudinal Study

Introduction: Sarcopenia can be more significant and severe in the presence of cardiovascular diseases. In hospitalized older adults with acute cardiac disease, assessing strength parameters, muscle mass, and physical performance is difficult largely because of bed rest restrictions. In this context, simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia (SARC-F) emerges as a feasible screening tool to identify sarcopenia in an emergency room setting.

Objectives: Assess the association between SARC-F, length of stay, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality in older adults with cardiovascular diseases admitted to the ER.

Methodology: An observational longitudinal study with 160 Brazilian older adults with cardiovascular diseases admitted to the hospital following an ER visit. The risk of sarcopenia was assessed by the SARC-F tool (independent variable). Length of stay, use of mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality were the dependent variables, collected via an electronic medical chart. Data were analyzed by simple and multiple linear and logistic regression.

Results: SARC-F explained 62% of length of stay, adjusted for the confounding variables age, male sex, and use of continuous medication, mechanical ventilation, and corticosteroids. Risk of sarcopenia was also associated with mechanical ventilation during hospitalization (odds ratio = 1.398; 95% CI, 1.018-1.919). SARC-F was not related to mortality.

Conclusion: Older adults with cardiovascular diseases hospitalized at greater risk of sarcopenia were more likely to need invasive mechanical ventilation and more prone to prolonged hospital stays.