Handgrip strength as a predictor of adverse events in hospitalized older adults: A prospective cohort study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether dynapenia at hospital admission predicts adverse events in older adults hospitalized for medical conditions. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. PARTICIPANTS: 120 patients aged ≥60 years admitted for medical reasons between July and December 2024. MEASUREMENTS: Handgrip strength was assessed within 48 h of admission using a JAMAR® dynamometer. Dynapenia was defined as <12 kg in men and <8 kg in women (sex-specific 25th percentile). Participants were followed for 30 days to identify adverse events, including mortality, delirium, readmission, healthcare-associated infections, pressure ulcers, and falls. Cox regression models estimated hazard ratios (HR). RESULTS: Median age was 74 years; 49.2% were women. Dynapenia was present in 30% of participants. During follow-up, 45 adverse events were documented: mortality (12.5%), delirium (9.2%), readmission (5.8%), and others (7.4%). Patients with dynapenia had a higher incidence of adverse outcomes (41.7% vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05). Dynapenia was independently associated with adverse events (adjusted HR 2.32; 95% CI: 1.08-4.99). Sensitivity analyses using intrapopulation tertiles and EWGSOP2 thresholds yielded consistent associations. CONCLUSION: Dynapenia at admission is an independent predictor of adverse events in hospitalized older adults. Handgrip strength is a simple bedside tool that may improve early risk stratification and support targeted preventive interventions.
Authors: Giancarlo Sante Farfan, Roberto Zenteno Zeballos, Leandro Huayanay Falconi
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,450
OpenAlex ID: W4417255406