Handgrip strength as a predictor of functional, psychological and social health. A prospective population-based study among the oldest old

Abstract

Background: Muscle wasting is associated with a detrimental outcome in older people. Muscle strength measurements could be useful as part of a clinical evaluation of oldest old patients to determine who are most at risk of accelerated decline in the near future. Objective: this study aimed to assess if handgrip strength predicts changes in functional, psychological and social health among oldest old. Design: the Leiden 85-plus Study is a prospective population-based follow-up study. Subjects: five-hundred fifty-five, all aged 85 years at baseline, participated in the study. 331 D. G. Taekema et al. Methods: handgrip strength was measured with a handgrip strength dynamometer. Functional, psyc..