Hand-grip strength cut points to screen older persons at risk for mobility limitation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine optimal hand-grip strength cut points for likelihood of mobility limitation in older people and to study whether these cut points differ according to body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of data.


METHODS
Data collected in the Finnish population-based Health 2000 Survey.


METHODS
One thousand eighty-four men and 1,562 women aged 55 and older with complete data on anthropometry, hand-grip strength and self-reported mobility.


METHODS
Mobility limitation was defined as difficulty walking 0.5 km or climbing stairs. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to estimate hand-grip strength cut points for likelihood of mobility limitation.


RESULTS
The overall hand-grip strength cut points for likelihood of mobility limitation were 37 kg (sensitivity 62%; specificity 76%) for men and 21 kg (sensitivity 67%; specificity 73%) for women. The effect of the interaction between hand-grip strength and BMI on mobility limitation was significant in men (P=.02), but no such interaction was observed in women (P=.16). In men, the most-optimal cutoff points were 33 kg (sensitivity 73%; specificity 79%) for normal-weight men, 39 kg (sensitivity 67%; specificity 71%) for overweight men, and 40 kg (sensitivity 57%; specificity 68%) for obese men. In women, BMI-specific hand-grip strength cutoff values was not markedly more accurate than the overall cutoff value.


CONCLUSIONS
The hand-grip strength test is a useful tool to identify persons at risk of mobility limitation. In men, hand-grip strength cut points for mobility increased with BMI, whereas in women, only one hand-grip strength threshold was identified.
Sallinen
Janne
J
Gerontology Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. janne.sallinen@vtt.fi
Stenholm
Sari
S
Rantanen
Taina
T
Heliövaara
Markku
M
Sainio
Päivi
P
Koskinen
Seppo
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires