OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia between postmenopausal and premenopausal women and evaluate the diagnostic performance of various screening methods combining anthropometric measurements and functional assessments.

METHODS

A total of 1630 women (794 postmenopausal, 836 premenopausal) were included. Data on upper arm circumference (AC), calf circumference (CC), and SARC-F questionnaire scores were collected. ROC curve analysis was performed to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of individual and combined diagnostic models.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 6.44%, with a higher prevalence in postmenopausal women (7.43%) than in premenopausal women (5.50%). Sarcopenic individuals had lower BMI and poorer functional performance. Among postmenopausal women, the SARC-F + CC combination demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 91.2), while in premenopausal women, the SARC-F + AC model was most effective (AUC = 85.53). The SARC-F + CC combination showed the best sensitivity (89.0%) and specificity (75.0%) across all participants.

CONCLUSION

Sarcopenia is more prevalent in postmenopausal women, with menopause identified as a key risk factor. Combining SARC-F with calf circumference enhances diagnostic accuracy and is recommended for early screening in primary healthcare settings to facilitate timely interventions and improve patient outcomes.