Practical Geriatrics ›› 2021, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (7): 696-700.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2021.07.009

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Relationship between handgrip strength and all-cause mortality in elderly inpatients with hypertension

YANG Hui, WANG Qing, LU Fei, FU Lin-lin, WANG Peng   

  1. Department of Geriatrics, Fuxing Hospital, Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China
  • Received:2020-08-08 Online:2021-07-20 Published:2021-08-02

Abstract: Objective To investigate the association between handgrip strength and all-cause mortality in the elderly inpatients with hypertension. Methods A prospective cohort study in the elderly inpatients with hypertension aged ≥65 years was conducted. The basic information, biochemical indicators, blood pressure, comorbidities and polypharmacy were recorded at admission. Activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function and the level of nutrition were assessed by Katz-ADL, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-From (MNA-SF) respectively. The handgrip strength was measured by dynamometer. After discharge, the mortality was followed up for more than 1 year. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between handgrip strength and the variables of different gender inpatients. Kaplan Meier curve and Cox regression analysis were used to analyze the correlation between handgrip strength and mortality. Results A total of 572 patients (84.02 ± 5.98 years, 58.7% men) were enrolled. During a median follow-up of 3.17 years (IQR 2.50-3.75), 111 participants (19.4%) died. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that handgrip strength was negatively correlated with age and Charlson comorbidity index, and positively correlated with hemoglobin levels, Katz-ADL, MMSE, and MNA-SF scores (P<0.05) in different genders. Handgrip strength was divided into quartile groups. The Kaplan Meier curve showed that the mortality increased with the decrease of handgrip strength (log rank: P<0.001). Cox regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounding variables showed that compared to the strongest quartile, the males in the weakest group had higher mortality(HR=2.484,95% CI:1.200-5.140,P=0.014), but this association was not found in female. Conclusions In the elderly male inpatients with hypertension, low handgrip strength is associated with the risk of all-cause mortality. Handgrip strength could be a simple and effective prognostic indicator for health outcomes.

Key words: handgrip strength, inpatients, aged, hypertension, mortality

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