Handgrip strength as a predictor of functional, psychological and social health. A prospective population-based study among the oldest old

Author(s):
Taekema, D.G.; Gussekloo, J. (0000-0001-7186-8278); Maier, A.B.; Westendorp, R.G.J. (0000-0002-0672-8372); Craen, A.J.M. de (0000-0001-9314-123X)
Published
2010
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

Objective: this study aimed to assess if handgrip strength predicts changes in functional, psychological and social health among oldest old. Design: the Leiden 85-plus Study is a prospective population-based follow-up study. Subjects: five-hundred fifty-five, all aged 85 years at baseline, participated in the study. Methods: handgrip strength was measured with a handgrip strength dynamometer. Functional, psychological and social health were assessed annually. Baseline data on chronic diseases were obtained from the treating physician, pharmacist, electrocardiogram and blood sample analysis. Results: at age 85, lower handgrip strength was correlated with poorer scores in functional, psychological and social health domains (all, P < 0.001). Lower baseline handgrip strength predicted an accelerated decline in activities of daily living (ADL) and cognition (both, P < 0.001), but not in social health (P > 0.30). Conclusion: poor handgrip strength predicts accelerated dependency in ADL and cognitive decline in oldest old. Measuring handgrip strength could be a useful instrument in geriatric practice to identify those oldest old patients at risk for this accelerated decline.

disability elderly handgrip strength health sarcopenia mini-mental-state grip strength physical performance cognitive function mexican-americans disability sarcopenia mortality loneliness decline
Date issued
2010-05-31
Language
English
Is part of
Age and Ageing (2010), Vol. 39, no. 3, p. 331-337
hdl
1887/117757
doi
10.1093/ageing/afq022