• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.27-37
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of handgrip strength level on cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients. Methods: This study used the first to eighth year data of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Of the 10,254 respondents who participated in the basic survey, respondents were included that they were diagnosed with high blood pressure and had no cognitive impairment. The handgrip strength was based on the highest value of handgrip strength for both hands. Cognitive function using MMSE results and 23 points or less were defined as cognitive impairment. Cox models were conducted to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of cognitive impairment in relation to handgrip strength adjusting for covariates. Results: In the case of hypertension patients, the probability of cognitive decline decreased by 3.0% every time the maximum handgrip strength increased by 1 unit. In the analysis by age, under the age of 64 had a 1.8% decrease in the probability of cognitive decline whenever the maximum handgrip strength increased by 1 unit, and a 3.6% decrease in those over the age of 65. In the gender analysis, male had a 3.2% decrease in the probability of cognitive decline for every 1 unit increase in the maximum handgrip strength, and female had a 2.6% decrease. Conclusions: The results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for the development of interventions to prevent cognitive decline in hypertensive patients by identifying the effect of handgrip strength level on cognitive decline. It is also expected to be used as basic data for health education on the necessity of increasing muscle strength for hypertension patients in the community.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.549-567
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• 2019

The present study examined whether the relation between relative handgrip strength and cognitive function varied by paid employment status and participation of social activities among Korean older adults. A total of 3,376 Korean adults aged 65 or older were drawn from the 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA). Weighted hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine moderating effects of paid employment status and social activities on the relation between relative handgrip strength and cognitive function. After adjusting for covariates, results show that relative handgrip strength has a positive association with cognitive function. Both paid employment status and social activities have positive associations with cognitive function and moderate the relationship between relative handgrip strength and cognitive function. These significant moderating effects show that participating in paid employment and social activities buffer against the effect of lower handgrip strength on cognitive function. Findings from the present study highlight the significant role of active aging in older adults'cognitive function. Implications are discussed in a cultural context.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the changes in the handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function according to the presence or absence of gloves and types of gloves. METHODS: Seventy-six adults in their twenties (male: 24, female: 52, mean age 21.04 years) were the subjects of this study. The handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function were evaluated with bare hands without gloves, poly gloves, and latex gloves. The handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer, and three pinch strength tests were performed: tip pinch, lateral pinch, and three-jaw pinch. The hand dexterity was evaluated using the Minnesota manual dexterity test, and the hand function was evaluated using the Jabson-Taylor hand function test. RESULTS: There was no difference in the grip strength depending on whether the gloves were worn. The hand grip, dexterity, and hand function showed significant differences according to the type of glove. Regarding the handgrip, dexterity, and hand function, the latex glove had the best function, and the poly glove had the lowest function. CONCLUSION: There was a difference in dexterity among the hand functions but no difference in grip strength according to the type of glove. The results suggest that the use of latex gloves in daily life be recommended.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2008

We examined the prevalence of sarcopenia and age-related changes in body composition in Korean older persons. Community dwelling 77 men and 65 women($60{\sim}88\;yr$) were recruited for this study. Fat-free mass and the percent body fat were determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Isometric grip strength was measurement using grip strength dynamometer. Serum levels of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride were assayed. The prevalence of sarcopenia was found to increase with aging (men in their sixties 82.6%, seventies 96.6% and eighties 100%, and women in their sixties 47.4%, seventies 63%). In both gender groups, handgrip strength was inversely correlated with age and positively correlated with height, lean mass, and fat free mass. Better handgrip strength was related with higher weight in the men and with lower heart rate in the women. Fat free mass, age, and gender were found to be independent factors significantly associated with handgrip strength in the multivariate analysis. In summary, results of the present study suggest that handgrip strength is well associated with age, gender, and fat free mass and the prevalence of sarcopenia is increased with age and is exceeded by 40% among Korean persons older than 60 years.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between relative handgrip strength (HGS/BMI) and obesity (BMI above 95th percentile) in adolescents. Methods: The subjects of the study were 637 out of 701 adolescents aged 10~18 who participated in the 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES), excluding those with missing values in body mass index (BMI) and handgrip strength (HGS). The relative handgrip strength (HGS/BMI) value was divided by quartile and composite sample logistic regression analysis was performed to see its relationship with obesity (BMI above 95th percentile). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results: As a result of analyzing HGS according to gender-specific quartiles, age, height, and weight of male adolescents increased significantly as HGS/BMI increased (p trend<.001). In addition, as HGS/BMI increased, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol decreased significantly (p trend<.001). In the case of female adolescents, age and height increased significantly as HGS/BMI increased (p trend<.001). HGS/BMI was lower in the obese group (p=.023), while total cholesterol was higher in the obese group(BMI above 95th percentile) than in the non-obese group. As a result of the composite sample logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) decreased significantly as the quartile increased in both male and female adolescents. Conclusion: According to these results, a follow-up study is needed to confirm the factors affecting muscle strength of adolescents. In addition, this study intends to be used as basic data to conduct further research and to develop programs that can improve muscle strength and reduce obesity in adolescents.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2024

The health benefits of dietary fiber are widely recognized, but its impact on muscle health remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the relationship between dietary fiber intake and muscle strength through a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Korea National Health and Examination Survey (KNHANES). Data from a single 24-h dietary recall and handgrip strength tests of 10,883 younger adults aged 19 to 64 years and 3,961 older adults aged ≥ 65 years were analyzed. Low muscle strength was defined as handgrip strength < 28 kg for men and < 18 kg for women. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association of dietary fiber intake with muscle strength. Approximately 43% of Korean adults met the recommended intake of dietary fiber, and those with higher dietary fiber consumption also had higher total energy and protein intake. After adjusting for confounding variables, dietary fiber intake was found to be positively associated with maximal handgrip strength in younger women aged 19 to 64 years (β = 0.015; standard error [SE] = 0.006) and older men aged ≥ 65 years (β = 0.035; SE = 0.014). For older women aged ≥ 65 years, those in the lowest quartile of dietary fiber intake had a higher risk of low muscle strength than those in the highest quartile after adjustment of confounders (odds ratio 1.709; 95% confidence interval 1.130-2.585). These results suggest that adequate dietary fiber intake may reduce the risk of sarcopenia in older Korean women.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.141-148
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• 2023

Purpose : This study examined the relationship between suicidal thoughts, hand grip strength, socioeconomic status, educational level, and disease occurrence. Methods : Korean national health and nutrition examination survey 2017 were used in this study. 5,449 were analysed. For comparison between groups, cross-tabulation analysis and mean comparison were performed. Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the influencing factors between grip strength and suicidal ideation. Results : Our results are consistent with the literature on the importance of socioeconomic status in health. The lower the level of education, the higher the suicidal thoughts. Being single or divorced was also significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Moreover, a lower income level was significantly associated with a higher suicide intention. Furthermore, older ages, lower educational levels, and lower income were significantly associated with a higher odds ratio of suicidal thoughts. Interestingly, suicidal thoughts were significantly lower among non-smokers. In contrast, suicide intention did not differ significantly according to gender, age, monthly drinking habit, aerobic physical activity, and disease occurrence. Suicidal thoughts decreased as grip strength increased and this was statistically significant. Socioeconomic status, disease occurrence, and handgrip strength level affected the security of an individual's livelihood and were significant risk factors for suicidal thoughts. These associations remained significant in multiple logistic regression even after controlling for all covariates. Conclusion : Future prevention intervention efforts to reduce suicide risks should consider handgrip strength. Studies to explore the possible proximal risk factors and mediators between handgrip strength and suicidal thoughts are also warranted.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.226-235
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• 2020

Objectives: Decreasing muscle strength in old age has become a significant health problem because it increases the risk of falls or fractures and transfers to other diseases. The precise role of dietary protein intake in preventing or reducing muscle weakness is unclear. This study examined the relationship between handgrip strength and protein intake in Korean female elderly. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used data from the Seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) on female subjects aged 65 years and older. Low handgrip strength (LHGS) was defined as a handgrip strength below than 18 kg. Dietary intake data were obtained using the 1-day 24-hour recall method. Multiple regression was performed to test whether there is an independent relationship between the grip strength and protein intake, and the association between protein intake and LHGS was confirmed through multiple logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the 2,083 elderly females was 73.3 ± 0.1 years, and the prevalence of LHGS was 35% (n=734). Elderly women with an LHGS consumed less energy, total protein, and animal-based protein than those in the normal group. A multiple regression analysis after adjusting for covariate revealed a significant positive association between the handgrip strength and energy, protein, and animal-based protein intake. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) of LHGS in female elderly with the highest quartiles of consumption of energy [OR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43-0.82; P for trend=0.004], and animal-based protein [OR, 0.59; CI, 0.40-0.87; P for trend=0.037] were significantly lower than those in the lowest quartiles. Conclusions: The energy intake and animal-based protein intake were negatively associated with the LHGS. These results suggest that adequate energy intake and protein intake, particularly those from animal-based sources, for elderly women in Korea are beneficial in lowering the risk of LHGS.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2016

Objectives: We investigated the associations of sarcopenia-defined both in terms of muscle mass and muscle strength-and sarcopenic obesity with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Secondary data pertaining to 309 subjects (85 men and 224 women) were collected from participants in exercise programs at a health center in a suburban area. Muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and muscle strength was measured via handgrip strength. Sarcopenia based on muscle mass alone was defined as a weight-adjusted skeletal muscle mass index more than two standard deviations below the mean of a sex-specific young reference group (class II sarcopenia). Two cut-off values for low handgrip strength were used: the first criteria were <26 kg for men and <18 kg for women, and the second criteria were the lowest quintile of handgrip strength among the study subjects. Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the combination of class II sarcopenia and being in the two highest quintiles of total body fat percentage among the subjects. The associations of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with metabolic syndrome were evaluated using logistic regression models. Results: The age-adjusted risk ratios (RRs) of metabolic syndrome being compared in people with or without sarcopenia defined in terms of muscle mass were 1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.47, p=0.008) in men and 1.12 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.19, p<0.001) in women, which were found to be statistically significant relationships. The RRs of metabolic syndrome being compared in people with or without sarcopenic obesity were 1.31 in men (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.56, p=0.003) and 1.17 in women (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.25, p<0.001), which were likewise found to be statistically significant relationships. Conclusions: The associations of sarcopenia defined in terms of muscle mass and sarcopenic obesity with metabolic syndrome were statistically significant in both men and women. Therefore, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity must be considered as part of the community-based management of non-communicable diseases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2021

Objectives: Recent studies have suggested that assessing handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry together with HGS may be helpful for evaluating problems in geriatric patients. This study aimed to identify whether HGS asymmetry, weakness, or both were associated with depression in Korean older adults. Methods: This study included 4274 subjects from the sixth and seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The maximum HGS of the dominant hand was used as a representative value. HGS symmetry was categorized by the ratio of the HGS of the dominant hand to that of non-dominant hand. The odds ratio (OR) for depression was calculated according to the HGS and its symmetry. Results: In total, 240 (12.5%) men and 534 (22.7%) women had depression. HGS or HGS asymmetry showed no statistically significant associations with depression in elderly men. Elevated odds of depression were observed in elderly women with low HGS (OR, 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33 to 2.81) or prominent HGS asymmetry (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.08). There was a positive additive interaction between asymmetric HGS and weakness, as women with low and prominently asymmetric HGS showed higher odds of depression (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 2.16 to 6.59) than women with high and symmetric HGS. Conclusions: Depression in elderly Korean women was associated with both low and asymmetric HGS. Our findings support the potential value of HGS asymmetry as an indicator of HGS.