OBJECTIVES

To prospectively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the sarcopenia echography (SARCHO) point-of-care ultrasound protocol for diagnosing sarcopenia, in accordance with the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a single-center prospective, feasibility diagnostic accuracy study among referred patients for falls assessment. They underwent an assessment for sarcopenia according to the EWGSOP2 criteria.

Participants were subjected to physical testing: 30-second chair stand test, short physical performance battery (SPPB), timed-up and go (TUG) test, and imaging procedures using DXA(gold standard) and SARCHO.

RESULTS

24 participants (15 women) with a mean age of 81 (± 5.2) years were included. Nine participants were classified as sarcopenic by DXA and physical testing, whereas seven participants were classified as sarcopenic by SARCHO and physical testing, according to the EWGSOP2 criteria.

SARCHO showed a diagnostic accuracy of 91.7% (95% CI: 81.9 – 97.2). When assessing the muscle architectural components, sarcopenic individuals showed lower muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, and pennation angle and a higher shear-wave kiloPascal value indicating higher degree of muscle stiffness.

CONCLUSION

The SARCHO protocol is a promising point-of-care, bedside tool with high diagnostic accuracy, providing a valuable standardized and evidence-based approach for assessing sarcopenia.