Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Study

Purpose: Low muscle strength is central to geriatric physical disabilities and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to examine handgrip strength (HGS) and its associated factors among community-dwelling older people in Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kandy...

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Main Authors: Hewaratne D.W.T. Damayanthi, Foong-Ming Moy, Kathijah L. Abdullah, Samath D. Dharmaratne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-09-01
Series:Asian Nursing Research
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131717306941
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author Hewaratne D.W.T. Damayanthi
Foong-Ming Moy
Kathijah L. Abdullah
Samath D. Dharmaratne
author_facet Hewaratne D.W.T. Damayanthi
Foong-Ming Moy
Kathijah L. Abdullah
Samath D. Dharmaratne
author_sort Hewaratne D.W.T. Damayanthi
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Low muscle strength is central to geriatric physical disabilities and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to examine handgrip strength (HGS) and its associated factors among community-dwelling older people in Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kandy district using multistage sampling. A total of 999 older people were recruited, with a female preponderance. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires on demographic characteristics, depression, and physical activity. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, calf circumference, and HGS were recorded. Complex sample general linear model was used to examine the association between HGS and its associated factors. Results: The mean highest HGS of the study group was 12.56 kg (95% confidence interval: 11.94–13.19). Male older people had a higher HGS (17.02, 95% confidence interval: 15.55–18.49 kg) than females (10.59, 95% confidence interval: 10.12–11.06 kg). For both men and women, older age was associated with lower HGS, while mid-upper arm circumference was associated with better HGS. Diabetes mellitus, vegetarian diet, and alcohol consumption were associated with HGS for women only. Conclusion: Men had a higher HGS compared with women. Age, mid-upper arm circumference, diabetes mellitus, vegetarian diet, and alcohol consumption were factors associated with HGS among community-dwelling older people in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. HGS can be used as a feasible strategy to improve health status of older people by community health nurses. Keywords: aged, hand strength, independent living
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spelling doaj.art-fbe9a70a9746446b9f07d4db1c6f135e2022-12-21T20:32:18ZengElsevierAsian Nursing Research1976-13172018-09-01123231236Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional StudyHewaratne D.W.T. Damayanthi0Foong-Ming Moy1Kathijah L. Abdullah2Samath D. Dharmaratne3Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri LankaJulius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Correspondence to: Foong Ming Moy, Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States; Department of Health Metric Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, United StatesPurpose: Low muscle strength is central to geriatric physical disabilities and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to examine handgrip strength (HGS) and its associated factors among community-dwelling older people in Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kandy district using multistage sampling. A total of 999 older people were recruited, with a female preponderance. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires on demographic characteristics, depression, and physical activity. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, calf circumference, and HGS were recorded. Complex sample general linear model was used to examine the association between HGS and its associated factors. Results: The mean highest HGS of the study group was 12.56 kg (95% confidence interval: 11.94–13.19). Male older people had a higher HGS (17.02, 95% confidence interval: 15.55–18.49 kg) than females (10.59, 95% confidence interval: 10.12–11.06 kg). For both men and women, older age was associated with lower HGS, while mid-upper arm circumference was associated with better HGS. Diabetes mellitus, vegetarian diet, and alcohol consumption were associated with HGS for women only. Conclusion: Men had a higher HGS compared with women. Age, mid-upper arm circumference, diabetes mellitus, vegetarian diet, and alcohol consumption were factors associated with HGS among community-dwelling older people in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. HGS can be used as a feasible strategy to improve health status of older people by community health nurses. Keywords: aged, hand strength, independent livinghttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131717306941
spellingShingle Hewaratne D.W.T. Damayanthi
Foong-Ming Moy
Kathijah L. Abdullah
Samath D. Dharmaratne
Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Study
Asian Nursing Research
title Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Study
title_short Handgrip Strength and Its Associated Factors among Community-dwelling Elderly in Sri Lanka: A Cross-sectional Study
title_sort handgrip strength and its associated factors among community dwelling elderly in sri lanka a cross sectional study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1976131717306941
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AT kathijahlabdullah handgripstrengthanditsassociatedfactorsamongcommunitydwellingelderlyinsrilankaacrosssectionalstudy
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