title: Handgrip strength as a predictor of higher-level competence decline among community-dwelling Japanese elderly in an urban area during a 4-year follow-up.
abstract: This 4-year observational study examined whether handgrip strength can predict functional decline in higher-level competence in a cohort of urban community-dwelling Japanese elderly. Subjects were 406 community-dwelling Japanese, 65 years or older at baseline who scored as "independent in higher-level competence" (11 and over) according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC). Independent variables were handgrip strength and usual walking speed at baseline survey. Dependent variables were functional status in higher-level competence at 4-year follow-up. Logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI), revealed that handgrip strength was significantly correlated with decline of higher-level competence in both sexes. Usual walking speed was significantly correlated with decline in higher-level competence only in women. This study revealed that handgrip strength is a predictor for decline in higher-level competence in urban community-dwelling Japanese elderly men and women. Results suggest that handgrip strength may be used to screen for functional capacity decline in community-dwelling elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigakumachi, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-8686, Japan. daigo13cho@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanimoto
authors.forename: Misuzu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Motoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kusabiraki
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kono
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Community-dwelling elderly; Functional decline; Handgrip strength; Higher-level competence; Longitudinal study