A clinically relevant criterion for grip strength: relationship with falling in a sample of older adults

Abstract

Objective: To develop a clinically relevant criterion for assessment of grip strength in older adults. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Subjects: 1251 persons aged [greater than or equal to] 70 years who had grip strength measured as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (1992) and survived to a second interview 12 months later. Setting: Randomly selected sample of community-dwelling older adults residing in the Adelaide (South Australia) Statistical Division as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Main outcome measures: Participants were asked if they had any falls in the previous 12 months and the same question was repeated in the second interview. Statistical analyses: Logistic regression analyses were performed with faller status at 12 months as the dependent variable, grip strength [greater than or equal to] 25th percentile as the reference category and controlling for age, gender, fuller status, BMI, exercise status and chronic disease. Results: For both genders the percentage fullers was highest for those with grip strength < 25th percentile (< 28kg males, < 15.5kg females). After controlling for potential confounders, grip strength < 25th percentile independently predicted falls 12 months later (OR = 1.41, 95% CI=1.03-1.94, P = 0.034). Conclusion: In previous studies grip strength has been shown to be positively correlated with measures of nutritional health and in this study we have shown that it is an important determinant of future falls. This knowledge could be used to help prevent falls in the elderly, in the future. Further research is warranted to determine whether nutritional support interventions can (1) improve or maintain grip strength among older adults and (2) aid in the prevention of subsequent accidental fails.