Prevalence and Diagnostic Strategies for Sarcopenia in Menopausal and Non-Menopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.

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.