Accuracy of different handgrip values to identify mobility limitation in older adults

Author(s)

Bicigo Delinocente, Maicon Luis ^[1] ; Trevisan de Carvalho, Danilo Henrique ^[2] ; Maximo, Roberta de Oliveira ^[2] ; Nisihara Chagas, Marcos Hortes ^{[3, 1]} ; Ferreira Santos, Jair Licio ^[4] ; de Oliveira Duarte, Yeda Aparecida ^[5] ; Steptoe, Andrew ^[6] ; de Oliveira, Cesar ^[6] ; Alexandre, Tiago da Silva ^{[6, 3, 1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Post Grad Program Gerontol, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Post Grad Program Phys Therapy, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Gerontol, Rodovia Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Social Med, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Med Surg Nursing, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] UCL, Dept Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, London - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS; v. 94, MAY-JUN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background/Objective: Mobility limitation is commonly the first sign of impaired physical function and predisposes older adults to disability. Moreover, recent epidemiological studies have classified neuromuscular strength as the best explanator of mobility limitation. However, existing cutoffs have not been adequately analyzed regarding accuracy. Therefore, our aims were to define and compare the accuracy of different cutoff points of handgrip strength for the identification of mobility limitation. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 5783 participants from the SABE (Saude, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento {[}Health, Wellbeing and Aging]) and ELSA (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing) cohorts aged 60 years or older. Handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer. Walking speed <0.8 m/s was considered mobility limitation. Receiver operating characteristic curves and probabilities of presenting mobility limitation were calculated. Results: Handgrip strength <32 kg for men and <21 kg for women demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy for mobility limitation, with 49.1% sensitivity and 79.8% specificity for men and 58.6% sensitivity and 72.9% specificity for women. The fully adjusted models had an area under the curve of 0.82 for men and 0.83 for women, with odds of presenting mobility limitation of 1.88 {[}95% CI: 1.50 - 2.37] for men and 1.89 {[}95% CI: 1.57 - 2.27] for women. Conclusions: The results of this study support the accuracy of handgrip strength as a clinical marker of mobility limitation. Furthermore, manual dynamometry is easily incorporated into clinical practice, has a good costbenefit, besides being a simple, valid, reliable and effective method for use in both the scientific community and outpatient practice. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/13917-3 - Musculoskeletal aging: metabolic and functional repercussions and mortality risk in people aged 50 and older
• Grantee: Tiago da Silva Alexandre
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/53778-3 - SABE Study 2010: Health, well-being and aging
• Grantee: Maria Lúcia Lebrão
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants