Normative data for three physical frailty parameters in an aging, rural Indian population

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPhysical frailty is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes. Since physical characteristics markedly vary with different populations, population‐specific norms for physical frailty parameters are necessary. Such norms are lacking for the Indian population, especially for older, rural Indians. We aimed to develop normative values for three quantitative, frailty parameters – hand grip strength, ‘Timed Up‐and‐Go’ (TUG) time and physical activity in an aging, rural Indian populationMethodThe study sample is from an ongoing, prospective, cohort (Srinivaspura NeuoSenescence and COGnition, SANSCOG) comprising of rural, community‐dwelling, cognitively healthy, aging Indians. Subjects are recruited through area sampling strategy, from villages of Srinivaspura, Kolar district, Karnataka state, India. Three physical frailty parameters of Fried’s phenotype – hand grip strength (n = 1787), TUG time (n = 1863) and physical activity (n = 1640) were assessed using digital hand dynamometry, TUG test and General Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), respectively.ResultThe 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th percentiles for age groups 45‐55, 56‐65, 66‐75 and >75 years were: right hand grip strength(kg): males–13.90, 18.60, 23.80, 28.70, 33.70 & females–7.80, 10.60, 14.20, 17.90, 21.30; left hand grip strength(kg): males–13.30, 18.30, 23.60, 28.90, 32.86 & females–7.90, 10.53, 14.30, 17.80, 21.20; TUG time(seconds): males–9.05, 10.09, 11.43, 13.38, 15.50 & females–9.51, 10.73, 12.40, 14.50, 16.57; physical activity(MET‐minutes/week): males–1680, 4320, 8880, 15840, 23352 & females–1680, 4320, 9240, 15120, 20160.ConclusionOur findings show that from 45 years onwards, overall grip strength decreases and TUG time increases, with women performing significantly poorer than men across all age groups, except >75 years, where no differences were seen. Physical activity did not show any consistent trend according to age or gender. Reference values for this aging, rural Indian population were substantially lower for grip strength and higher for TUG time than aging populations in several Western and other Asian countries