Factors influencing Handgrip Strength in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Purpose: Handgrip strength is a crucial biomarker of overall health in aging populations. This study aimed to identify a comprehensive range of factors associated with normal handgrip strength among community-dwelling older adults in Korea using recent, nationally representative data. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2,010 adults aged 60 years or older from the 9th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2022. A complex samples multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with normal handgrip strength, with results presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The odds of having normal handgrip strength were most powerfully predicted by having normal muscle mass (OR = 4.66, 95% CI [2.36, 9.19], p < .001). Conversely, factors significantly associated with lower odds of normal handgrip strength included female sex (OR = 0.58, 95% CI [0.01, 0.28], p < .001), increasing age (OR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.87, 0.97], p = .005), lowest-quartile income (OR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.23, 0.77], p = .005), and depression (OR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.86, 0.99], p = .033). Conclusions: Handgrip strength in older Korean adults is multifactorial, determined by a combination of physiological, demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological factors. Therefore, public health strategies to preserve physical function in the aging population should be comprehensive, targeting not only muscle-strengthening interventions but also addressing socioeconomic inequalities and integrating mental health support.