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Examining the role of different weakness categories for mobility and future falls in older Americans

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Abstract

Background

Recently developed absolute and body size normalized handgrip strength (HGS) cut-points could be used individually and collectively to predict mobility problems and falls.

Aims

We examined the associations of (1) each absolute and normalized weakness cut-point, (2) collective weakness categories, and (3) changes in weakness status on future falls in older Americans.

Methods

The analytic sample included 11,675 participants from the 2006–2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Falls were self-reported. Men were classified as weak if their HGS was < 35.5-kg (absolute), < 0.45 kg/kg (body mass normalized), or < 1.05 kg/kg/m2 (body mass index normalized). While, women were considered weak if their HGS was < 20.0-kg, < 0.337 kg/kg, or < 0.79 kg/kg/m2. Collective weakness categorized those below 1, 2, or all 3 cut-points. The collective weakness categories were also used to observe changes in weakness status over time.

Results

Older Americans below each absolute and normalized cut-point had greater odds for future falls: 1.23 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–1.32) for absolute weakness, 1.20 (CI 1.11–1.29) for body mass index normalized weakness, and 1.26 (CI 1.17–1.34) for body mass normalized weakness. Persons below 1, 2, or all 3 weakness cut-points had 1.17 (CI 1.07–1.27), 1.29 (CI 1.18–1.40), and 1.36 (CI 1.24–1.48) greater odds for future falls, respectively. Those in some changing weakness categories had greater odds for future falls: 1.26 (CI 1.08–1.48) for persistent and 1.31 (CI 1.11–1.55) for progressive.

Discussion

Collectively using these weakness cut-points may improve their predictive value.

Conclusion

We recommend HGS be evaluated in mobility and fall risk assessments.

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Data availability

Data from this investigation are publicly-available on the Health and Retirement Study website.

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Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R15AG072348 (to RM). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Healthy Aging North Dakota (HAND), North Dakota State University, 1805 NDSU Research Park Dr. N., Fargo, ND, 58102, USA

    Ryan McGrath & Matthew Langford

  2. Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Ryan McGrath, Bryan K. Christensen, Matthew Langford, Yeong Rhee & Kyle J. Hackney

  3. Fargo VA Healthcare System, Fargo, ND, USA

    Ryan McGrath

  4. Department of Geriatrics, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA

    Ryan McGrath & Donald A. Jurivich

  5. Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition, and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health & Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Ryan McGrath & Grant R. Tomkinson

  6. Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Bong-Jin Choi

  7. Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

    Bong-Jin Choi

Authors
  1. Ryan McGrath
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  2. Donald A. Jurivich
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  3. Bryan K. Christensen
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  4. Bong-Jin Choi
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  5. Matthew Langford
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  6. Yeong Rhee
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  7. Grant R. Tomkinson
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Correspondence to Ryan McGrath.

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HRS protocols were approved by the University of Michigan Behavioral Sciences committee Institutional Review Board.

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Written informed consent was provided by participants before starting the HRS.

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McGrath, R., Jurivich, D.A., Christensen, B.K. et al. Examining the role of different weakness categories for mobility and future falls in older Americans. Aging Clin Exp Res 35, 2491–2498 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02516-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02516-6

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