Comparison of standard<i>versus</i>population-specific handgrip strength cut-off points in the detection of probable sarcopenia after launch of EWGSOP2
Gülistan Bahat, Cihan Kılıç, Mustafa Altınkaynak, Mehmet Akif Karan
Abstract
Objective We aimed to compare European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2)-suggested and population-specific handgrip strength (HGS) thresholds to detect probable sarcopenia and their associations with physical-performance measures and frailty.Methods A retrospective cross-sectional observational-study included geriatrics outpatients applied to a university-hospital. HGS, timed up and go test (TUG), and usual gait speed (UGS) were assessed. Frailty was screened by FRAIL-scale.Results A total of 1825 older adults were included (mean age, 74.5 + 7.0 years; 68.8% female). Prevalence of low-HGS were 12.2% by the EWGSOP2-recommended (27/16 kg) cut-offs and 37.5% by population-specific cut-offs (35/20 kg) (p<.001). When low-HGS was defined by EWGSOP2 suggested cut-offs, low-HGS was associated with impaired UGS, (odds ratio [OR] = 3.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0–6.9, p<.001); impaired TUG, (OR = 4.6, 95% CI: 2.4–8.8, p<.001); and frailty (OR = 20.9, 95% CI: 8.3–53.0, p<.001). Similarly, low HGS determined by population-specific cut-off points was associated with impaired UGS (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1–6.9, p<.001); impaired TUG (OR = 6.0, 95% CI: 3.0–11.8, p<.001); and frailty (OR = 7.3, 95% CI: 4.1–13.0, p<.001).Conclusions Application of EWGSOP2-recommended standard HGS-cut-offs showed successful application in-practice. However, use of standard HGS cut-offs may result in underdiagnosis of probable sarcopenia. Therefore, we suggest that, whenever available, use of population-specific cut-offs for HGS may be better for correctly identifying older adults at risk.