Handgrip Strength, Function, and Mortality in Older Adults: A Time-Varying Approach.

TitleHandgrip Strength, Function, and Mortality in Older Adults: A Time-Varying Approach.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsMcGrath, RP, Vincent, B, Lee, I-M, Kraemer, WJ, Peterson, MD
JournalMedicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
ISSN Number1530-0315
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, Mortality, Physical Ability, Physical measures
Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the time-varying associations between 1) decreased handgrip strength and disabilities in each activity of daily living (ADL) function, and 2) disaggregated ADL limitations and time to mortality in older adults.

METHODS: A United States nationally-representative sample of 17,747 older adults from the Health and Retirement Study were followed for eight-years. Maximal handgrip strength was measured with a hand-held dynamometer. Ability to perform ADLs were self-reported. Date of death was identified by the National Death Index and exit interviews. Separate covariate-adjusted hierarchical logit models were used to examine the time-varying associations between decreased handgrip strength and each ADL outcome. Distinct covariate-adjusted Cox models were used to analyze the time-varying associations between disaggregated ADL limitations and time to mortality.

RESULTS: Every five-kilogram decrease in handgrip strength was associated with increased odds for the following ADL limitations: 20% for eating, 14% for walking, 14% for bathing, 9% for dressing, 8% for transferring, and 6% for toileting. The presence of a bathing, walking, toileting, eating, and dressing ADL disability was associated with a 47%, 43%, 32%, 30%, and 19% higher hazard for mortality, respectively. A transferring ADL disability was not significantly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Decreased handgrip strength was associated with increased odds for each ADL limitation, and in turn, most individual ADL impairments were associated with a higher hazard for mortality in older adults. These findings provide insights into the disabling process by identifying which ADL limitations are most impacted by decreased handgrip strength and the subsequent time to mortality for each ADL disability.

DOI10.1249/MSS.0000000000001683
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29933349?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalMed Sci Sports Exerc
Citation Key9757
PubMed ID29933349
Grant ListUL1 TR002240 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States