Validation of Uzbek SARC-F and IPAQ-SF Questionnaires in Adults With and Without Hypothyroidism

November 4, 2026 updated by: Andijan State Medical Institute

Psychometric Validation of the Uzbek-Language SARC-F and IPAQ-SF Among Adults With and Without Primary Hypothyroidism

This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of two Uzbek-language questionnaires in adults with and without primary hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid).

The SARC-F questionnaire asks about difficulties with everyday physical activities, such as walking, standing up from a chair, and climbing stairs. It helps identify people who may need further assessment for sarcopenia, a condition involving reduced muscle strength and function. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) assesses walking, moderate and vigorous physical activity, and sitting time during the previous seven days.

The study will include 480 Uzbek-speaking adults aged 18 years or older in the Andijan region of Uzbekistan. Of these, 240 will have primary hypothyroidism and 240 will have normal thyroid function. Both women and men will participate.

All participants will complete both questionnaires and undergo measurements of muscle strength and physical function. At least 200 participants will complete the same questionnaires again after 7-14 days.

The researchers will examine how consistently the questionnaires measure physical function and activity and how their results relate to objective functional measurements. No experimental treatment will be provided.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

This prospective observational methodological study is designed to evaluate the measurement properties of the Uzbek-language SARC-F and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) among adults with and without primary hypothyroidism.

SARC-F assesses self-reported functional limitations relevant to sarcopenia screening, whereas IPAQ-SF measures self-reported physical activity. Although these instruments assess complementary aspects of physical health, they represent distinct constructs and require separate psychometric evaluation.

Participants will be recruited from outpatient healthcare facilities and the community in the Andijan region of Uzbekistan using non-probability sampling. Two clinical comparison groups will be formed: individuals with documented primary hypothyroidism, including those receiving levothyroxine, and individuals with normal thyroid function. Thyroid status will not be modified by the study.

At baseline, each participant will complete both questionnaires electronically using standardised Uzbek-language versions. Physical assessments will include handgrip dynamometry, the five-times sit-to-stand test, and a 4-m usual gait-speed test. Anthropometric measurements and relevant clinical information, including thyroid function and treatment history, will also be collected.

An embedded test-retest substudy will involve repeated administration of both questionnaires after 7-14 days. Changes in health status, treatment, mobility, and habitual physical activity will be recorded to identify clinically and behaviourally stable participants.

The primary objective is to assess the test-retest reliability of the SARC-F total score and IPAQ-SF total physical activity estimate. Secondary analyses will examine measurement error, agreement of screening and activity classifications, response distributions, and hypothesis-based construct validity using objective functional measurements. Associations between SARC-F and IPAQ-SF will also be explored without combining their scores into a composite measure.

Exploratory analyses will investigate differences in measurement properties according to thyroid status, sex, and age. Statistical analyses will follow COSMIN methodological principles and report relevant reliability estimates with 95% confidence intervals.

The study will not assess the effects of any treatment. Functional tests will support construct-validity analyses but will not serve as definitive reference standards for diagnosing sarcopenia or objectively measuring habitual physical activity.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
480

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will comprise Uzbek-speaking adults aged 18 years or older recruited from outpatient healthcare facilities and the community in the Andijan region of Uzbekistan. Participants will include 240 individuals with documented primary hypothyroidism and 240 euthyroid comparison participants. Both sexes will be included. All participants will complete SARC-F and IPAQ-SF, and at least 200 participants will undergo repeat questionnaire administration after 7-14 days.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18 years or older, without an upper age limit.
  • Men and women who can understand and complete the Uzbek-language questionnaires.
  • Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.
  • Documented primary hypothyroidism, including patients receiving levothyroxine replacement therapy, or euthyroid status without known thyroid disease and with thyroid function within the reference range.
  • Willingness to complete both SARC-F and IPAQ-SF questionnaires and participate in the planned assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe cognitive impairment or other conditions preventing reliable questionnaire completion.
  • Acute severe illness at the time of assessment.
  • Severe medical conditions making the planned functional tests unsafe.
  • Previous participation in the preliminary SARC-F or IPAQ-SF adaptation and pilot samples used to develop the Uzbek-language versions.
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Primary Hypothyroidism

Adults aged 18 years or older with documented primary hypothyroidism, including those receiving levothyroxine replacement therapy. The planned group size is 240 participants. All participants will complete the Uzbek-language SARC-F and IPAQ-SF questionnaires and undergo standardised functional assessments. Approximately 100 participants will repeat both questionnaires after 7-14 days.
Euthyroid Comparison Group

Adults aged 18 years or older without known thyroid disease and with thyroid function within the reference range. The planned group size is 240 participants. All participants will complete the Uzbek-language SARC-F and IPAQ-SF questionnaires and undergo standardised functional assessments. Approximately 100 participants will repeat both questionnaires after 7-14 days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Test-Retest Reliability of the Strength, Assistance in Walking, Rise From a Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline

Test-retest reliability of the Uzbek-language Strength, Assistance in Walking, Rise From a Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire total score (range 0-10, with higher scores indicating greater functional difficulties) will be assessed using a two-way random-effects, absolute-agreement, single-measure intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Analyses will include clinically stable participants who complete both assessments.
Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline
Test-Retest Reliability of Total Physical Activity Measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF)
Time Frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline

Test-retest reliability of total physical activity assessed using the Uzbek-language International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), expressed in metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week (MET-minutes/week) and transformed as log(1 + total MET-minutes/week), will be assessed using a two-way random-effects, absolute-agreement, single-measure intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Analyses will include clinically and behaviourally stable participants who complete both assessments.
Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
SARC-F Screening Classification Agreement
Time Frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline

Agreement between positive (SARC-F score ≥4) and negative (score <4) screening classifications at the two administrations, assessed using Cohen's kappa and percentage agreement.
Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline
IPAQ-SF Physical Activity Category Agreement
Time Frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline

Agreement between low, moderate and high physical activity categories at the two administrations, assessed using weighted kappa and percentage agreement.
Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline
Measurement Error of the SARC-F Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline

Measurement error of the Uzbek-language Strength, Assistance in Walking, Rise From a Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire total score (range 0-10; higher scores indicate greater functional difficulties and worse outcomes) will be assessed using the standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest detectable change at the 95% confidence level (SDC95), and Bland-Altman limits of agreement, based on repeated assessments in clinically stable participants.
Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline
Measurement Error of IPAQ-SF Total Physical Activity
Time Frame: Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline

SEM, SDC95 and Bland-Altman agreement analysis, where appropriate, for repeated log(1 + total MET-minutes/week) values. Estimates on the transformed scale will be identified accordingly.
Baseline and 7-14 days after baseline
Construct Validity of SARC-F: Handgrip Strength
Time Frame: Baseline

Spearman correlation between baseline SARC-F total score (0-10) and handgrip strength measured by dynamometry (kg). A negative association is hypothesised.
Baseline
Construct Validity of SARC-F: Five-Times Sit-to-Stand
Time Frame: Baseline

Spearman correlation between baseline SARC-F total score (0-10) and five-times sit-to-stand completion time (seconds). A positive association is hypothesised.
Baseline
Construct Validity of SARC-F: Gait Speed
Time Frame: Baseline

Spearman correlation between baseline SARC-F total score (0-10) and usual gait speed over 4 metres (m/s). A negative association is hypothesised.
Baseline
Construct Validity of IPAQ-SF: Gait Speed
Time Frame: Baseline

Association between IPAQ-SF total physical activity (MET-minutes/week) and usual 4-m gait speed (m/s), assessed using Spearman correlation. A positive association is hypothesised.
Baseline
Construct Validity of IPAQ-SF: Mobility Limitations
Time Frame: Baseline

Association between IPAQ-SF total physical activity (MET-minutes/week) and recorded mobility limitations. Participants with mobility limitations are hypothesised to report lower physical activity.
Baseline

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association Between SARC-F and IPAQ-SF
Time Frame: Baseline

Exploratory Spearman correlation between the SARC-F total score and IPAQ-SF total physical activity (MET-minutes/week). A negative association is hypothesised.
Baseline
SARC-F Response Distribution and Internal Consistency
Time Frame: Baseline

Distribution of total and item scores, floor and ceiling effects, corrected item-total correlations and internal consistency of the five-item SARC-F questionnaire.
Baseline
Floor Effect of the SARC-F Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline

Percentage of participants obtaining the minimum possible total score of 0 on the Uzbek-language Strength, Assistance in Walking, Rise From a Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire (range 0-10; higher scores indicate greater functional difficulties). The floor effect will be reported as a percentage.
Baseline
Ceiling Effect of the SARC-F Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline

Percentage of participants obtaining the maximum possible total score of 10 on the Uzbek-language Strength, Assistance in Walking, Rise From a Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire (range 0-10; higher scores indicate greater functional difficulties). The ceiling effect will be reported as a percentage.
Baseline
Distribution of the SARC-F Total Score
Time Frame: Baseline

Baseline total score of the Uzbek-language Strength, Assistance in Walking, Rise From a Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire, ranging from 0 to 10 points. Higher scores indicate greater functional difficulties. The distribution will be described using the median and interquartile range.
Baseline
Total Physical Activity Measured by IPAQ-SF
Time Frame: Baseline

Total physical activity will be assessed using the Uzbek-language International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Weekly physical activity will be calculated from walking, moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity activities according to the IPAQ-SF scoring protocol and expressed in metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week (MET-minutes/week). Higher values indicate greater reported physical activity. The measure has no fixed maximum score.
Baseline
IPAQ-SF Physical Activity Categories
Time Frame: Baseline

Physical activity will be classified as low, moderate or high using the established scoring criteria of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The number and percentage of participants in each category will be reported. Categories reflect increasing levels of reported physical activity.
Baseline
Sitting Time Measured by IPAQ-SF
Time Frame: Baseline

Self-reported sitting time during a usual weekday over the preceding seven days will be assessed using the sitting item of the Uzbek-language International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Sitting time will be expressed in minutes per day. Higher values indicate longer sedentary time. Valid values range from 0 to 1,440 minutes per day.
Baseline
Invalid or Implausible IPAQ-SF Responses
Time Frame: Baseline

The percentage of participants with invalid or implausible baseline responses to the Uzbek-language International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) will be determined using prespecified data-cleaning and scoring rules. Each participant will be classified as having either valid or invalid/implausible responses. The outcome will be reported as the percentage of participants classified as invalid/implausible.
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Andijan State Medical Institute

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Abdukhalim Abdurakhimov, PhD, Andijan State Medical Institute, Andijan 170127

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 4, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • UZ-SARCF-IPAQ-2026

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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