Effects of hospitalization on grip strength in elderly people
Muscle Strength, Sarcopenia, Aging
Aim: To evaluate the effects of hospitalization on handgrip strength of hospitalized older adults in a university hospital; as well as compare means of handgrip strength at admission and discharge; to identify factors related to the worst performance in the test and to define specific cutoff points to handgrip strength in men and women older adults. Methods: An analytical observational type of the cohort type study was carried out at University Hospital Onofre Lopes (HUOL), Natal-RN. Were evaluated cognitive status (Leganés Cognitive Test), functional status (Katz Index, Lawton Scale and Functional limitation Nagi), physical performance (handgrip strength and gait speed) and presence of depressive symptomatology (GDS-15) at admission and discharge, as well information on the state of the health and functionality prior to hospitalization were collected. Results: a total of 1070 hospitalized older adults were evaluated, however 75 deaths occurred. It was observed a significant decrease in means of handgrip strength between admission and discharge for men (26,66±9,68 admission and 19,11±13,42 discharge, p<0,0001) and for women (17,93±7,43 admission and 14,24±9,41 discharge, p<0,0001). Men presented greatest decline in handgrip strength compared to women (-8,10±13,51 men and -4,33±9,14 women, p<0,0001). Remained significant in our final multiple linear regression the variables maximum handgrip strength at admission, perform surgery for both groups and be dependent 15 days before and on admission in BADL in women only. Were defined the cutoff points for handgrip strength of 22,0 Kgf for men and 15 Kgf for women. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is a difference in handgrip strength at both moments of assessment and men have lost more strength than women. Performing surgery in both men and women decreases muscle strength. Beside this, only in women being dependent on BADL 15 days before and at moment of admission decreased muscle strength on discharge. Finally, we defined the cutoff points for handgrip strength in specific hospitalized elderly between the sexes.