Determinants of handgrip strength in free-living elderly at risk of malnutrition

Purpose: Handgrip strength is necessary for performing activities of daily living, which, in turn, are required to maintain functional autonomy. The purpose of this study was to determine anthropometric and personal factors that affect handgrip strength in a group of free-living elderly at risk of malnutrition. Method: The factors associated with handgrip strength (Pearson r, t-test, alpha=0.10) were entered in a multiple linear regression model (n=166) to identify the independent prediction factors. Reliability of the model was verified with a subgroup of 65 subjects randomly selected from the initial sample. Results: Both groups were statistically similar regarding all factors studied even though the validation group (n=65) had more men (32%) compared to the development group (n=166; 22%). Bivariate analyses showed that handgrip strength was associated with sex, age, pain, hand circumference, and waist-hip ratio. Multiple linear regression analysis identified age, pain, and sex as independent determinants of handgrip strength (R-2=0.16). This model predicted handgrip strength better in the validation group (R-2=0.29). Conclusions: As previously shown, women have a smaller handgrip strength than men. In addition, handgrip strength decreases with increasing age and the presence of pain. Emphasis should be placed on the importance of strategies to relieve pain in the free-living frail elderly population.