{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T05:01:13Z","timestamp":1781154073327,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781136000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Although several guidelines recommend tools for sarcopenia screening and diagnosis, their feasibility in Chinese primary health care (PHC) remains unclear. This study evaluated the availability and convenience of sarcopenia-related tools from the perspective of routine PHC practice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      This two-stage expert-based evaluation was conducted between March 2023 and June 2024. In phase 1, a multidisciplinary core panel (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f6) used a modified nominal group technique to define availability and convenience and to establish rating rules. In phase 2, an independent panel of PHC experts (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f7) assessed 15 tools identified from major sarcopenia guidelines; ultrasonography was included as an emerging option. Inter-rater agreement was examined using Kendall\u2019s coefficient of concordance.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Availability was defined as the ease with which clinicians could obtain the required equipment or tool and use it in routine practice, whereas convenience was defined as the overall practicality of the test in terms of operational difficulty, acceptability, and portability. Screening tools were consistently rated as the most feasible options for PHC. Among strength and performance assessments, the chair stand test, gait speed, the Short Physical Performance Battery, and the Timed Up and Go test were rated as highly available and highly convenient. Handgrip strength was highly convenient but only moderately available because dynamometers were not routinely stocked in many PHC institutions. For confirmatory assessment of muscle mass, ultrasonography showed the most favorable overall profile, with high availability and moderate convenience, whereas bioelectrical impedance analysis showed moderate convenience but limited availability. Inter-rater agreement was high for both convenience (Kendall\u2019s W\u202f=\u202f0.86, 95% CI 0.84\u20130.96,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001) and availability (Kendall\u2019s W\u202f=\u202f0.92, 95% CI 0.90\u20130.98,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In this exploratory expert-based assessment, Chinese PHC appeared well suited to sarcopenia case finding and first-line functional assessment, but confirmatory evaluation of muscle mass remained a major implementation bottleneck. A staged pathway may emphasize screening in PHC, selective referral, and targeted investment in feasible technologies such as bioelectrical impedance analysis and ultrasonography.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1859478","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T04:36:11Z","timestamp":1781152571000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Availability and convenience of sarcopenia screening and diagnostic tools in Chinese primary care"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Jinyi","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Sichuan University Affiliated Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu Second People's Hospital","place":["Chengdu, China"]},{"name":"School of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Ulster University","place":["Belfast, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shumin","family":"Ren","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Sichuan University Affiliated Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu Second People's Hospital","place":["Chengdu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Runjuan","family":"Qiao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Practice Ward\/International Medical Center Ward, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University","place":["Chengdu, Sichuan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yiru","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health, Zhaotong Health Vocational College","place":["Zhaotong, Yunnan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoying","family":"Xie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, The Fifth People's Hospital of Sichuan Province","place":["Chengdu, Sichuan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kang","family":"An","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Practice Ward\/International Medical Center Ward, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University","place":["Chengdu, Sichuan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qiaoli","family":"Su","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"General Practice Ward\/International Medical Center Ward, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University","place":["Chengdu, Sichuan, China"]},{"name":"Wangjiang Hospital, Sichuan University","place":["Chengdu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dan","family":"Jia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Outpatient, West China Hospital, Sichuan University","place":["Chengdu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1296112","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1296112","article-title":"Shared decision making in sarcopenia treatment","volume":"11","author":"An","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afy169","article-title":"Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis","volume":"48","author":"Cruz-Jentoft","year":"2019","journal-title":"Age Ageing"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1038\/s41572-024-00550-w","article-title":"Sarcopenia","volume":"10","author":"Sayer","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat Rev Dis Prim"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"300","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jamda.2019.12.012","article-title":"Asian working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 consensus update on Sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment","volume":"21","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Am Med Dir Assoc"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1148","DOI":"10.1007\/s12603-018-1139-9","article-title":"International clinical practice guidelines for Sarcopenia (Icfsr): screening, diagnosis and management","volume":"22","author":"Dent","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Nutr Health Aging"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"943","DOI":"10.3760\/cma.j.issn.0254-9026.2021.08.001","article-title":"Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment for elderly with sarcopenia(2021)","volume":"40","author":"Liu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chin J Geriatr"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9306","DOI":"10.18632\/aging.205919","article-title":"Global consensus for sarcopenia","volume":"16","author":"Kirk","year":"2024","journal-title":"Aging"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16030436","article-title":"Diagnostic criteria and measurement techniques of Sarcopenia: a critical evaluation of the up-to-date evidence","volume":"16","author":"Voulgaridou","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1802","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)30122-7","article-title":"Quality of primary health care in China: challenges and recommendations","volume":"395","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2584","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(17)33109-4","article-title":"The primary health-care system in China","volume":"390","author":"Li","year":"2017","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1633363","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1633363","article-title":"Integration and innovation: medical and health consortia improving continuing medical education in China","volume":"13","author":"An","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref12","volume-title":"Notice on Printing and Issuing Three Service Capacity Standards, Including Township Health Centers","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"170","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-016-0349-4","article-title":"Sarcopenia in daily practice: assessment and management","volume":"16","author":"Beaudart","year":"2016","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.14283\/jfa.2020.63","article-title":"Sarcopenia in primary care: screening, diagnosis, management","volume":"10","author":"Crosignani","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Frailty Aging"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105132","DOI":"10.1016\/j.archger.2023.105132","article-title":"Clinical practice for sarcopenia in Asia: online survey by the Asian working Group for Sarcopenia","volume":"115","author":"Yamada","year":"2023","journal-title":"Arch Gerontol Geriatr"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnesp.2022.01.027","article-title":"Screening, diagnosis and monitoring of sarcopenia: when to use which tool?","volume":"48","author":"Ackermans","year":"2022","journal-title":"Clin Nutr Espen"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afac205","article-title":"World guidelines for falls prevention and management for older adults: a global initiative","volume":"51","author":"Montero-Odasso","year":"2022","journal-title":"Age Ageing"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5100","DOI":"10.3390\/s24165100","article-title":"Handgrip strength in health applications: a review of the measurement methodologies and influencing factors","volume":"24","author":"Quattrocchi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sensors"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.1007\/s41999-025-01184-1","article-title":"Predictive value of different physical performance assessment methods for falls in older adults: a 3-year longitudinal study in China","volume":"16","author":"Lu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur Geriatr Med"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1007\/s41999-020-00433-9","article-title":"Application of ultrasound for muscle assessment in sarcopenia: 2020 Sarcus update","volume":"12","author":"Perkisas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur Geriatr Med"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3052","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clnu.2020.10.048","article-title":"Bioelectrical impedance analysis (Bia) -derived phase angle in sarcopenia: a systematic review","volume":"40","author":"Di Vincenzo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clinical Nutr"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1002\/jcsm.12132","article-title":"Integrated care for geriatric frailty and sarcopenia: a randomized control trial","volume":"8","author":"Chan","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.afos.2025.05.005","article-title":"Sarcopenia prevention in older adults: effectiveness and limitations of non-pharmacological interventions","volume":"11","author":"Kim","year":"2025","journal-title":"Osteoporosis Sarcopenia"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24679","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-75975-0","article-title":"Comparative analysis of Sarc-F-Ebm, Ishii test, and six other screening tools for sarcopenia in Chinese community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional diagnostic study","volume":"14","author":"Guo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"378","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-025-06042-0","article-title":"Evaluation of sarcopenia diagnosis strategies in Chinese community-dwelling older adults based on the 2019 Asian working group guidelines: a cross-sectional study","volume":"25","author":"Yan","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e052592","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj-2019-052592","article-title":"Early prevention or overdiagnosis?","volume":"376","author":"Cb","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.3389\/fonc.2020.00085","article-title":"The multidisciplinary team (Mdt) approach and quality of care","volume":"10","author":"Taberna","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Oncol"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103497","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eclinm.2025.103497","article-title":"Can multidisciplinary teams improve the quality of primary care? A scoping review","volume":"88","author":"Bates","year":"2025","journal-title":"EClinicalMedicine"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1859478\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]],"date-time":"2026-06-11T04:36:13Z","timestamp":1781152573000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1859478\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]]},"references-count":28,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1859478"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1859478","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,11]]},"article-number":"1859478"}}