Hand Grip Strength in Elderly Patients with Chronic Illnesses: A Case Control Study

摘要

Background: Weak Handgrip Strength (HGS) is associated with poor functional performance capacity and frailty especially among older adults. This study compared HGS among elderly individuals with chronic illnesses and healthy controls. Methods: 176 (88 patients and 88 healthy controls) participants were purposively recruited for this case-control study. World Health Organization’s definition of old adult (i.e. 65 years and older) was adopted for the inclusion criteria. A handheld dynamometer was used to assess HGS. Anthropometric parameters were measured following standard procedures. Clinical bio-data of the patients were gleaned from case notes. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. Results: The participants’ ages ranged between 65 and 84 years. The patient group had significant higher anthropometric measures (p<0.05). The controls had higher Dominant HGS (DHGS) (22.8 ± 7.12 vs. 26.5 ± 4.76 Kgf; p=0.001) and Non-Dominant HGS (NDHGS) (22.0 ± 6.21 vs. 25.4 ± 4.65 Kgf; p=0.00) respectively. The control group ‘males’ had significantly higher DHGS and NDHGS (p<0.05) while the patients’ group females had the least DHGS and NDHGS scores (p<0.05). Patients with neuromuscular conditions or multimorbidity had significantly lower DHGS and NDHGS (p<0.05). There was significant association between level of HGS and each of sex, age group and BMI classification (p<0.05). There were higher number of participants with weak and intermediate HGS in the patient group compared with controls (p=0.001). Regression analysis revealed that age, weight, height, BMI and duration of illness were significant predictors of DHGS and NDHGS respectively (p<0.05). The variability of the predictive model for DHGS and NDHGS was 37.7% and 52.2% respectively. (R~(2) =52.2). Similarly, only ‘age (p=0.011) and ‘duration of illness (p=0.001) were significant predictors of dominant HGS. Conclusions: Elderly individuals with chronic illnesses have poorer HGS than healthy controls. Having a neuromuscular conditions or multimorbidity significantly impaired HGS than illnesses of musculoskeletal origin. Age, gender and anthropometric measures significantly influence HGS. Age, weight, height, BMI and duration of illness seems to be moderate predictors of HGS but not without significant errors.