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Associations of Handgrip Asymmetry With Impaired Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study Using National Survey Data.

Jihyun BaekYunmi KimHyun-Young Kim
Published in: Asia-Pacific journal of public health (2022)
This study aimed to examine the associations of handgrip strength (HGS) and asymmetry with health-related quality of life among South Korean older adults. We enrolled 7395 older adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Health-related quality of life was measured using the EuroQol-5 Dimension. Weakness was defined as a HGS of <26 kg for men and <18 kg for women. Handgrip strength symmetry was defined as an HGS ratio of 0.9:1.1, and HGS asymmetry was defined as a ratio outside that range. Data were analyzed using the Rao-Scott χ 2 , F test, and multivariate logistic regression. Compared with those in the "symmetric HGS and not weak" group, those in the "asymmetric HGS and weak" group had impaired health-related quality of life for all variables among men (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.67-3.75). A greater risk of impaired self-care (SC; odds ratio [OR] = 2.33) and anxiety/depression (AD; OR = 1.40) was observed among women in the "asymmetric HGS and weak" group. Handgrip weakness and asymmetry are associated with impaired health-related quality of life. Handgrip asymmetry can be a clinical marker of health-related quality of life in older adults and must be measured alongside HGS.
Keyphrases
  • physical activity
  • polycystic ovary syndrome
  • electronic health record
  • depressive symptoms
  • big data
  • type diabetes
  • middle aged
  • pregnancy outcomes
  • sleep quality
  • insulin resistance
  • skeletal muscle