Handgrip strength rather than chair stand test should be used to diagnose sarcopenia in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients: REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT)

Abstract

Background according to the revised sarcopenia definition proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) and revised definition of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS2019), handgrip strength (HGS) and chair stand test (CST) can be used interchangeably as initial diagnostic measures. Objective to assess the agreement between sarcopenia prevalence, using either HGS or CST, and their association with adverse outcomes in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients. Methods REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs is an observational, longitudinal cohort of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients. Cohen’s kappa (κ) was used to assess the agreement between sarcopenia prevalence (no, probable and confirmed and severe sarcopenia) according to EWGSOP2 and AWGS2019 using either HGS or CST. Associations between HGS and CST and readmission, institutionalisation and mortality were assessed by binomial regression. Results patients (n = 1,250, 57% females) had a median age of 83.1 years (interquartile range: [77.5–88.3]). There was no agreement between probable sarcopenia prevalence using HGS or CST for EWGSOP2 and AWGS2019, respectively (HGS: 70.9% and 76.2%; CST: 95.5% and 98.4%; κ = 0.08 and 0.02). Agreement between confirmed and severe sarcopenia prevalence using either HGS or CST was strong to almost perfect. HGS was associated with 3-month institutionalisation and 3-month and 1-year mortality, whereas CST was not associated. Conclusions HGS and CST cannot be used interchangeably as diagnostic measures for probable sarcopenia in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients. CST is not useful to predict adverse outcomes in geriatric rehabilitation inpatients.

Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity among older adults in the nordic countries: a scoping review

“…We believe it is basically because studies have applied different assessment tools and tests to identify older adults with low muscle mass and muscle strength, although using the same definition criteria (Table 1 ). Previous studies have illustrated that choice of methodology to assess muscle strength (e.g., hand grip strength, chair rise) [ 59 ] and muscle mass (e.g., DXA, BIA, anthropometry) [ 60 – 62 ] in older adults may impact findings and this variability may explain some of the variability in our findings. So, adherence to the latest uniform diagnostic criteria for future studies is recommended to simplify the comparison of findings within the same country, across countries, and regions.…”

Improved Muscle Mass and Function With Protein Supplementation in Older Adults With Sarcopenia: A Meta-Analysis

“…As this study did not confirm a change in muscle mass affecting muscle strength and functional mobility, further studies are needed. Handgrip strength is a diagnostic tool for sarcopenia in the geriatric population and is known to reflect sarcopenic conditions better than other measurement tools, such as the chair-stand test [ 24 ]. Low handgrip strength could be a main predictor of mortality and adverse events in older individuals with sarcopenia [ 25 ].…”

Deep-learning model for predicting physical fitness in possible sarcopenia: analysis of the Korean physical fitness award from 2010 to 2023

“…Table 1 described the absolute grip strength in the possible sarcopenia group as 18.89 kg. A previous study described that grip strength (kg) was more diagnostic of sarcopenia than the chair stand test (count) ( 52 ). Our results are consistent with this, showing grip strength to be the second most important variable for predicting possible sarcopenia, in comparison to other physical fitness variables.…”