•This is a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study of South Korean elderly.•We investigate the association between handgrip strength asymmetry and fall risk in elderly.•Handgrip strength ...asymmetry is significantly associated with an increased risk of falls in the elderly population.•Early identification and treatment of handgrip strength asymmetry in the elderly could reduce the incidence of falls and be a potential preventive strategy.
This study aimed to investigate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry and fall risk in elderly Koreans.
This study used data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 3407 participants aged ≥ 65 years were included. HGS asymmetry was defined as an HGS asymmetry ratio (nondominant HGS/dominant HGS) of ≥ 1.2 or ≤ 0.8. The presence of a fall was defined as a self-reported fall event that needed treatment at a hospital or emergency department in the previous year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between HGS asymmetry and fall risk.
The odds ratio for falls was 1.89 times higher in the group with HGS asymmetry than in the group without HGS asymmetry after adjusting for age, sex, multimorbidity, obesity, current smoking, alcohol drinking, and physical exercise (95% confidence interval, 1.03–3.49; P < 0.05).
This study revealed that HGS asymmetry is significantly associated with an increased risk of falls in the Korean elderly population. Therefore, early identification and treatment of HGS asymmetry in the elderly could reduce the incidence of falls and be a potential preventive strategy.
Objectives:
Wasting is the predominant systemic clinical manifestation of chronic diseases like tuberculosis (TB). Delay in diagnosis and therapy initiation may affect handgrip strength, severity and ...outcome of the disease. Limited data are available on this in the Indian context, despite a high prevalence of TB. This study aimed to estimate and correlate deficits in handgrip strength amongst sputum-positive and sputum-negative pulmonary TB patients in relation to the time lag between symptom onset and starting of antitubercular therapy (ATT).
Materials and Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study amongst newly diagnosed sputum-positive and sputum-negative pulmonary TB patients and age- and sex-matched apparently healthy volunteers. Handgrip strength of 341 newly diagnosed patients of TB was monitored within 1 week of starting ATT and analysed. Demographic details and clinical history of the participants were noted in the pre-designed form. The handgrip strength of 100 healthy volunteers was also taken for comparison.
Results:
The study findings suggest that deficits in handgrip strength amongst sputum-negative patients were more than sputum-positive patients in comparison to age- and sex-matched healthy controls. It took an average of 63 ± 27 days between the onset of symptoms and starting of ATT in sputum-negative patients in comparison to an average of 47 ± 12 days in sputum-positive patients.
Conclusion:
Early consultation by patients, rapid diagnosis of TB and the start of ATT, thereby decreasing the time lag between the symptom onset and start of ATT, may lead to a decreased deficit in handgrip strength with the improved overall health of patients. Extensive Information, Education and Communication activities and newer diagnostic modalities for early identification of cases and the start of chemotherapy are required for optimal management of TB patients.
The present study examined the relationship between hand grip strength and pulmonary functions of healthy children and the aim was to use regression model and hand grip strength as a practical tool ...to predict pulmonary functions. The study was designed as cross-sectional and analytical. A total of 755 healthy children (age= 9.38±0.48) participated in the study voluntarily. Hand grip strength and respiratory function tests were applied to the children. In statistical analysis, Pearson correlation and linear regression model were used. A significant correlation was found between right and left hand grip strength and FVC, FEV1 and PEF (p<0.05). In addition, while the left hand grip strength had a significant effect on the lung function parameters FVC, FEV and PEF (p<0.05), it was found that the right hand grip strength was not a significant predictor of the parameters (p> 0.05). As a result, it was concluded that there are correlations between HGS and functional respiratory parameters in children, just as in adults and patient groups. In order to analyse the correlations between HGS and respiratory functions more clearly, it is recommended to examine important factors such as different age, activity levels and gender together in new studies.
The present study examined the relationship between hand grip strength and pulmonary functions of healthy children and the aim was to use regression model and hand grip strength as a practical tool ...to predict pulmonary functions. The study was designed as cross-sectional and analytical. A total of 755 healthy children (age= 9.38±0.48) participated in the study voluntarily. Hand grip strength and respiratory function tests were applied to the children. In statistical analysis, Pearson correlation and linear regression model were used. A significant correlation was found between right and left hand grip strength and FVC, FEV1 and PEF (p<0.05). In addition, while the left hand grip strength had a significant effect on the lung function parameters FVC, FEV and PEF (p<0.05), it was found that the right hand grip strength was not a significant predictor of the parameters (p> 0.05). As a result, it was concluded that there are correlations between HGS and functional respiratory parameters in children, just as in adults and patient groups. In order to analyse the correlations between HGS and respiratory functions more clearly, it is recommended to examine important factors such as different age, activity levels and gender together in new studies.
•This study was the first report of urinary dysfunction and sarcopenia in patients with dysphagia.•Urinary dysfunction in patients with dysphagia was not associated with sarcopenia.•Urinary ...dysfunction in patients with dysphagia was associated with handgrip strength and activities of daily living.•The cutoff for handgrip strength was 19 kg for men and 6.1 kg for women, a lower standard than the diagnosis of sarcopenia.
The objective was to determine the relationship between sarcopenia and urinary dysfunction in patients with dysphagia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 460 Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database participants. Urinary dysfunction was defined as either urinary incontinence or urethral catheter use. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed the association between urinary dysfunction and sarcopenia, calf circumference (CC), handgrip strength (HGS), and Barthel Index (BI). Logistic regression analysis was performed for urinary dysfunction adjusted for age, sex, setting, and CCI in addition to BI and HGS or CC or sarcopenia (model 1) or FILS and BI (model 2).
The mean age was 80.8 ± 10.5 years and urinary dysfunction in 137 participants. Urinary dysfunction was not associated with sarcopenia (123 versus 281, p = 0.440) but was associated with CC (27.4 ± 4.2 versus 28.5 ± 3.9, p = 0.009), HGS (9.7 ± 7.9 versus 14.4 ± 9.3, p < 0.001), and BI (19.9 ± 0.3 versus 20.3 ± 0.2, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed urinary dysfunction was associated with HGS (OR: 0.968, CI: 0.938, 0.998) and BI (OR: 0.955, CI: 0.943, 0.966). The cutoff was 19 kg for men (sensitivity 0.786, specificity 0.56, Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.689) and 6.1 kg for women (sensitivity 0.493, specificity 0.774, AUC 0.639) in HGS and 27.5 points in BI (sensitivity 0.781, specificity 0.604, AUC 0.740).
Sarcopenia was not associated with urinary dysfunction. However, HGS and BI were related to urinary dysfunction.
Handgrip strength (HGS) weakness and asymmetry were recently reported to be associated with age-related health conditions. However, little is known about their combined effects on depression. We ...aimed to explore the joint association of HGS asymmetry and weakness with depressive symptoms in Chinese middle and older aged population.
8700 participants aged ≥45 years were enrolled from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2015–2018). HGS weakness was determined as maximal HGS < 28 kg in males and <18 kg in females. HGS asymmetry was measured by HGS ratio and was defined using two different rules. Specifically, HGS ratio < 0.90 or >1.10 (10 % rule) and <0.80 or >1.20 (20 % rule) were considered as asymmetry. Participants were classified into four groups: normal and symmetric HGS, asymmetry only, weakness only, and both weakness and asymmetry. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, with scores ≥12 defined as depression. The logistic regression and multiple linear regression models were conducted to estimate the associations between HGS status and depressive symptoms.
The three-year incidence of depression was 19.2 %. After adjusting for covariates, compared to normal and symmetric HGS, participants with both HGS asymmetry and weakness showed the greatest risk of incident depression (10 % rule: OR 1.55, 95 % CI 1.19–2.02; 20 % rule: OR 1.71, 95 % CI 1.16–2.50). The coexistence of asymmetry and weakness was related to a significant increase in depression score (10 % rule: β 0.96, 95 % CI 0.38–1.54; 20 % rule: β 0.94, 95 % CI 0.08–1.81). The complete case analysis supported the results, and the associations were not modified by age, sex, and hand dominance.
Depressive assessment was based on self-reported screening instrument.
The presence of both HGS asymmetry and weakness was associated with a higher risk of depression. Examining HGS asymmetry along with weakness may aid in identifying individuals at risk of depression to enable early interventions.
•The presence of both HGS asymmetry and weakness was strongly associated with incident depression.•HGS asymmetry combined with weakness was related to a significant increase in depression score.•Early recognition and intervention of HGS asymmetry and weakness may help reduce depression risk.
Abstract
Background
Both absolute (kg) and relative (kg per kg of body weight) handgrip strength (HGS) have been used as indicators of HGS. Multiple studies have explored HGS associations with type 2 ...diabetes (T2DM); however, prognostic values were inconsistent. We aimed to examine the associations between both absolute and relative HGS and incident T2DM.
Methods
A total of 12,957 participants aged 40 years and older (mean age 51.0 years, 58.4% men) were followed and enrolled in the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) Cohort Study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association of HGS with incident T2DM. Other prospective studies on HGS and risk of T2DM were identified by searching several electronic databases up to November 31, 2021. Meta-analysis was performed by combining the results from the TCLSIH study and previous prospective cohort studies.
Results
From the TCLSIH Cohort study, after adjustment, relative HGS was inversely associated with T2DM (hazard ratio per 0.1 higher relative HGS 0.667, 95% confidence interval CI 0.616, 0.722). However, no significant association between absolute HGS and incident T2DM was found. The meta-analyses showed that per 5 kg higher HGS was associated with a 5% (95% CI 2%, 8%) lower risk of T2DM and each 0.1 higher relative HGS was associated with a 22% (95% CI 14%, 29%) lower risk of T2DM.
Conclusion
The results from our cohort study and meta-analysis suggest that relative HGS was better than absolute HGS in predicting incident T2DM. Adiposity was an important factor that mediates the association between HGS and T2DM.
This study aimed to explore the links of handgrip strength and asymmetry with cognitive impairment.
This was a seven-year prospective cohort study.
We used data from wave 3 (2015-2017) to wave 5 ...(2019-2022) from the ongoing Taiwan Initiative of Geriatric Epidemiological Research (TIGER), with wave 3 as the baseline (n = 446). The study included community-dwelling participants aged 65 years or older.
Handgrip strength was measured, and abnormalities were determined based on handgrip strength weakness and asymmetry. Handgrip strength asymmetry was categorized into three groups at baseline based on the handgrip strength ratio (left handgrip strength/right handgrip strength). Cognitive tests evaluating global and specific cognitive domains were conducted at baseline and two biennial follow-ups. Generalized linear mixed models were utilized to assess the associations of abnormal handgrip strength with global cognition and multiple cognitive domain progression over time.
This study included 392 dementia-free participants, with an average age of 75.8 years and 179 (45.7%) males. Mild handgrip strength asymmetry was present in 88 participants (22.4%), while 53 (13.5%) exhibited moderate asymmetry. In men, the coexistence of low handgrip strength and handgrip strength asymmetry was linked to cognitive impairment over time. These associations were observed in global cognition (β^ = -1.76, 95% CI: -2.79 to -0.74), memory (immediate free recall: β^ = -0.67, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.17), executive function (Trail Making Test-A: β^ = -0.54, 95% CI: -0.94 to -0.13), and attention (Digit span-forward: β^ = -1.00, 95% CI: -1.46 to -0.54).
This study found that individuals with reduced handgrip strength and handgrip strength asymmetry had an increased risk of cognitive impairment across various domains. Moreover, this association appears to be more pronounced among men than women. Incorporating these simple assessments into regular clinical practice improves the allocation of limited screening resources and timely clinical interventions in older adults.
Purpose The study aimed to examine whether handgrip strength (HGS) expressed as absolute or relative to body weight is associated with fasting glucose (FG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the prevalence ...of diabetes mellitus (DM) in different age categories. Methods A total of 28,129 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2014-2018 was analyzed. To examine the relationship between HGS and variables related to DM, participants were categorized into three groups according to their HGS (Tertile). Then, participants were further categorized into six groups according to their age. One-way ANOVA and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Compared with participants in the upper tertile of absolute handgrip strength (AHGS), those in the lower tertile were older, shorter and heavier and also had higher FG and HbA1c. When age was adjusted, the prevalence of DM was 1.19 times (95% CI: 1.03-1.38) higher among men in the lowest tertile of AHGS. On the other hand, compared with participants in the highest tertile of relative handgrip strength (RHGS), those in the lowest tertile had 2.10 times (95% CI: 1.87-2.41) and 2.42 times (95% CI: 2.08-2.81) higher prevalence of DM in men and women, respectively. When the associations were examined according to age subcategories, significant associations between AHGS and the prevalence of DM were seen only in men in their 50s and 60s, but not seen in women in all age groups, with the exception of the 60s. However, significant associations between RHGS and the prevalence of DM were seen in all age subcategories. Conclusions We concluded that the association between HGS and the prevalence of DM was dependent on age and RHGS is a stonger measure than AHGS.
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