Handgrip Strength and Its Association with Sociodemographic Profiles and Body Weight Status of Patients in Medical Wards

Background/Aims: Handgrip strength using dynamometry has been widely used in hospital settings as a valid marker of overall health and muscle strength. Low handgrip strength is considered a better predictor of clinical outcomes than low muscle mass when it is measured in standard conditions and compared with reference populations. This crosssectional study aimed to determine the handgrip strength and its association with sociodemographic profiles and body weight status among adult patients in medical wards of a public hospital in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 265 who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. Handgrip strength was measured in both right and left hand using the handgrip dynamometer. Sociodemographic profiles were accessed from the medical record. Body weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results: The mean age was 53.4 ± 16.01 SD, with males more than females 51.6% vs 48.4%, respectively. The prevalence of underweight were 13.4% and 51.2% were overweight and obese. Older patients tend to have lower handgrip strength (14.23 ± 9.61 SD) as compared to younger patients (rs = –0.174, p = 0.006), and a higher BMI was significantly associated with higher handgrip strength (rs = 0.134, p = 0.036). Conclusion: Handgrip strength significantly correlates with body weight status, future studies can be done to investigate further on the underlying reasons that might affect the handgrip strength status in patients in medical wards.