Chronic diseases, multimorbidity, and handgrip strength among older adults from Southern Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: PESSINI, Júlia
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Rodrigues BARBOSA, Aline, Benício Santos de Moraes TRINDADE, Erasmo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista de Nutrição
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/nutricao/article/view/7957
• topic: Aging; Chronic disease; Hand strength; Envelhecimento; Doença crônica; Força da mão

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between various chronic diseases, multimorbidity, and handgrip strength in community dwelling older adults in Southern Brazil. MethodsA cross-sectional study carried out with 477 older adults (60 years and older) who resided in Antônio Carlos, Santa Catarina state. Subjects aged 60-79 years were selected by probability sampling (n=343) and all subjects aged 80 years or older (n=134) were evaluated. Chronic diseases were identified by self-report. A mechanical dynamometer verified handgrip strength (i.e., the outcome). Adjustments variables were age, literacy, living arrangement, smoking, body mass index, cognitive function, and comorbid chronic diseases. Sex-stratified analyses were conducted with simple and multiple linear regression. ResultsA total of 270 women (73.2±8.8 years) and 207 men (73.3±9.0 years) were assessed. In the adjustment analysis, cancer (β=-3.69; 95%CI=-6.97 to -0.41) and depression (β=-1.65; 95%CI=-3.20 to -0.10) were associated with lower handgrip strength in women. For men, diabetes (β=-5.30; 95%CI=-9.64 to -0.95), chronic lung disease (β=-4.74; 95%CI=-7.98 to -1.50), and coronary heart disease (β=-3.07; 95%CI=-5.98 to -0.16) wereassociated with lower handgrip strength values. There was an inverse trend between number of diseases and handgrip strength for men only. ConclusionThe results showed an independent association between chronic diseases and handgrip strength. As such, handgrip strength is a valid measure to use for prevention or intervention in chronic disease and multimorbidity.