FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HAND GRIP STRENGTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS—FINDINGS FROM THE LASI STUDY INDIA

Abstract

Abstract Objective To identify the factors associated with handgrip strength among older adults in India. Methods Data for the study were drawn from the baseline survey of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI, 2017–18). This study was conducted on respondents aged 60 years and above with a total sample of 27,347 older adults (men-13,241 and women-14,118). The study assessed handgrip strength using a handheld Smedley’s Hand Dynamometer. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test was used to measure the mean difference in the handgrip strengths according to presence of risk factors. Results The mean handgrip strength was 29.76 + 11.23 kgs for both the genders. There was statistically significant difference in the mean handgrip strength of men (36.26 + 10.83 kg) and women (23.70 + 7.65 kg respectively). Significantly lower handgrip strength was observed among participants in rural area (29.58 + 11.20 kg), difficulty in activities of daily living (28.24 + 10.97 kg), low level physical activity, balance impairment (21.09 + 8.83 kg) slowness in walking (25.14 + 9.87 kg), history of falls (28.24 + 10.97 kg), and presence of bone and joint disease (27.44 + 10.60 kg) as compared to their counterparts. Conclusion The study contributed to a better understanding of factors associated with HGS, and thus, the HGS is recommended as a section in the health evaluation among high-risk older adults as the strategy of disease control and prevention.