Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018;22(8):938-943.
doi: 10.1007/s12603-018-1041-5.

Depression and Handgrip Strength Among U.S. Adults Aged 60 Years and Older from NHANES 2011-2014

J M Brooks  1 , A J Titus, M L Bruce, N M Orzechowski, T A Mackenzie, S J Bartels, J A Batsis
Affiliations

Depression and Handgrip Strength Among U.S. Adults Aged 60 Years and Older from NHANES 2011-2014

J M Brooks et al. J Nutr Health Aging. 2018.

Abstract

Objectives: Sarcopenia is a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength that occurs with aging. This muscle deterioration is linked to increased morbidity, disability, and other adverse outcomes. Although reduced handgrip strength can be considered a marker of sarcopenia and other aging-related decline in the elderly, there is limited research on this physical health problem in at-risk groups with common biopsychosocial conditions such as depression. Our primary objective was to ascertain level of combined handgrip strength and its relationship with depression among adults aged 60 years and older.

Design: Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were conducted with a cross-sectional survey dataset.

Setting: Secondary dataset from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Participants: Community-dwelling, non-institutionalized adults ≥60 years old (n=3,421).

Measurements: The predictor variables included a positive screen for clinically relevant depression (referent=PHQ-9 score <10). The criterion variable of combined handgrip strength (kg) was determined using a dynamometer.

Results: Mean age and BMI were 69.9 years (51.5% female) and 28.8 kg/m2, respectively. Mean combined handgrip strength in the overall cohort was 73.5 and 46.6 kg in males and females, respectively. Three hundred thirty-six (9.8%) reported symptoms of depression. In unadjusted and fully adjusted models, depression was significantly associated with reduced handgrip strength (B = -0.26±0.79 and B = -0.19±0.08, respectively; p<0.001).

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate handgrip strength has a significant inverse association with depression. Future longitudinal studies should investigate the causal processes and potential moderators and mediators of the relationships between depression and reduced handgrip strength. This information may further encourage the use of depression and handgrip strength assessments and aid in the monitoring and implementation of health care services that address both physical and mental health limitations among older adult populations.

Keywords: Handgrip strength; depression; epidemiology; sarcopenia.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Brooks, Mr. Titus, Dr. Bruce, Dr. Orzechowski, Dr. Mackenzie, Dr. Bartels, and Dr. Batsis have nothing to disclose.

References

    1. Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, et al. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010;39:412–423. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Studenski SA, Peters KW, Alley DE, et al. The FNIH sarcopenia project: rationale, study description, conference recommendations, and final estimates. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014;69:547–558. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kim TN, Choi KM. Sarcopenia: definition, epidemiology, and pathophysiology. J Bone Miner Res. 2013;20:1–10. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rolland Y, Czerwinski S, Van Kan GA, et al. Sarcopenia: its assessment, etiology, pathogenesis, consequences and future perspectives. J Nutr Health Aging. 2008;12:433–450. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Batsis JA, Mackenzie TA, Lopez-Jimenez F, Bartels SJ. Sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and functional impairments in older adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2004. Nutr Res. 2015;35:1031–1039. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types