The progressive loss of muscle mass and function with age (sarcopenia) and age-related loss of strength (dynapenia) are major causes of disability among the elderly. Dynapenia predisposes older adults to an increased risk of physical disability, poor physical performance and mortality. Handgrip strength (HGS) measured with a hand-held dynamometer is a commonly used in clinical practice for assessment of muscle strength. Low HGS indicates poor mobility and predicts clinical outcomes better than low muscle mass. There are advantages for the use of handgrip strength in a hospital setting in terms of affordability, portability, simplicity and time efficiency. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older Persons (EWGSOP) has recommended two different sets of cut-off points for the identification of low grip strength. One set are specific to gender only and the other set are specific to both gender and body mass index (BMI). However, it is currently unclear which set of cut-off points are most useful for clinicians in predicting low physical function in older adults. The aim of the project is to determine if the gender/BMI-based HGS cut-offs are better at predicting poor physical function than the cut-offs based on gender alone. It is anticipated that the use of gender-BMI-based handgrip cut-off points will be more accurate and useful in predicting physical performance and lower body strength in older adults.
