Abstract
Objective There is lack of knowledge about the patterns and correlates of hand grip strength (HGS) of older adults in Indonesia. This study aims to assess sociodemographic and health determinants of HGS among older adult men and women in Indonesia. Methods Participants were 7097 individuals of 50 years and older (mean age 61.2 years, SD=9.4) that participated in the cross-sectional Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS-5) in 2014-15. The assessment measures included a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and health variables and anthropometric and HGS measurements. Linear multivariable regression analysis was conducted to estimate the association of social and health variables and HGS. Results The mean HGS was 28.2 kgs for men and 17.2 kgs for women. In adjusted linear regression analysis among both men and women, height, being overweight or obese, and having a good self-rated health status were positively associated with HGS, while age, having underweight, low cognitive functioning, and functional disability were negatively associated with HGS. In addition, among men, higher education and medium economic background were positive and having two or more chronic conditions, having severe depressive symptoms, and having moderate sleep impairment were negatively associated with HGS. Conclusion The study contributed to a better understanding of patterns and correlates of HGS among older adults in Indonesia. Gender-specific and health related interventions may be needed so as to improve the physical functioning of the growing older populace in Indonesia.
Highlights
Hand grip strength (HGS) is used as an indicator of overall body muscle function and a proxy assessment measure of physical health, in particular among older persons [1]
In adjusted linear regression analysis among both men and women, height, being overweight or obese, and having a good self-rated health status were positively associated with HGS, while age, having underweight, low cognitive functioning, and functional disability were negatively associated with HGS
The decrease of HGS with age was larger among men than among women
Summary
Hand grip strength (HGS) is used as an indicator of overall body muscle function and a proxy assessment measure of physical health, in particular among older persons [1]. Various studies found that older adults with poorer self-rated health had lower HGS [5, 7,8,9]. Poorer cognitive functioning has been found negatively associated with HGS [3, 4, 10]. Poorer mental health status, including depressive symptoms and sleep problems, has been found to be inversely correlated with HGS among older adults in various countries [10, 11]. In the Irish Longitudinal Study on ageing among older adults, HGS was inversely associated with incident depression [12]
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