KASİDİD LAWONGSA, JİTRAWEE TEPAKORN, PARİT HİRİ O TAPPA, SİRAKARN TEJAVANİJA, KULACHADE GESAKOMOL, PATSRİ SRİSUWAN
European Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology - 2025;7(2):116-124
OBJECTIVE Sarcopenia increases risks of adverse outcomes and healthcare costs while reducing independence and quality of life. Early detection allows timely interventions, but advanced diagnostic tools are often inaccessible. The Yubi-Wakka test (finger-ring) test is an easy-to-use and cost-effective screening tool that may serve as a practical alternative. This study examines its association with sarcopenia and its predictive value for new-onset cases in Thai older adults. Materials and Methods This cohort study followed 460 older adults from the Outpatient Department at Phramongkutklao Hospital. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the 2019 criteria established by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Participants were grouped into “bigger”, “just fits”, and “smaller” categories according to their Yubi-Wakka (finger-ring) test outcomes. Baseline and longitudinal relationships were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS Participants in the “just fits” group had 3.28 times higher [odds ratio (OR) =3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.56-6.88] and those in the “smaller” group had 6.91 times higher (OR =6.91, 95% CI: 3.78-12.64) of sarcopenia at baseline compared to the “bigger” group. Over two years, the risk of developing new-onset sarcopenia was 2.1 times higher [hazard ratio (HR) =2.1, 95% CI: 1.40-3.16] in the “just fits” group and 3.3 times higher (HR =3.3, 95% CI: 2.37-4.58) in the “smaller” group. CONCLUSION The Yubi-Wakka test or finger-ring test proves to be an effective, low-cost screening tool for sarcopenia, with strong predictive value for both its presence and future onset. Its simplicity makes it highly suitable for resource-constrained environments.
