Self-rated eyesight and handgrip strength in older adults

Abstract

Background:The aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-rated eyesight and handgrip strength in a large, representative population of older adults.Methods: Data were from 7,433 older adults (≥52y) participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We used linear regression to analyse the association between self-rated eyesight and handgrip strength cross-sectionally in 2004/05, and longitudinally over four-year follow-up, adjusting for a range of socio-demographic and health-related variables. Results:In cross-sectional and prospective models, poor eyesight was strongly associated with lower handgrip strength after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and BMI (crosssectional B = -1.39 kg, 95% CI -1.84 to -0.94, p<0.001, prospective B = -0.68 kg, 95% CI -1.14 to -0.22, p=0.004). The association was attenuated but remained statistically significant when health behaviours were included in the model (cross-sectional B = -0.93 kg, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.44, p<0.001, prospective B = -0.50, 95% CI -0.99 to -0.02, p=0.044). Conclusions:Older adults in England with poor self-rated eyesight have lower levels of physical function compared with those with good eyesight. This association can be predominantly explained by differences in age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, BMI, and health behaviours, as well as chronic conditions, disability and depression.

Synergistic associations of visual and self-reported hearing acuity with low handgrip strength in older adults: a population-based cross-sectional study

“…The association between sensory organ function and LHGS demonstrated a progressively increasing pattern as visual and hearing acuity deteriorated. Our results are similar to those of previous research that poor self-rated eyesight was associated with LHGS, and multiple sensory impairments, including hearing impairment, were associated with lower adjusted mean handgrip strength [ 23 , 24 ]. However, prior studies only divided visual and hearing acuity in a dichotomous manner to evaluate the association with handgrip strength, and there was no study in which hearing impairment alone was related to LHGS.…”

“…Despite the functional connection between sensory and motor areas [ 22 ], little is known about the relationship between visual and hearing acuity, muscle weakness, and low muscle mass, which is an important cause of the decrease in physical function [ 4 , 23 , 24 ]. Sensory function is an indicator of healthy physical aging.…”

“…Moreover, studies evaluating the association between sensory function and handgrip strength divided sensory function dichotomously (mainly into good or impaired); thus, the dose-response effect of sensory function decline on handgrip strength could not be evaluated [ 23 , 24 ]. Owing to the sex difference in predictors of handgrip strength and association of age, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) with LHGS in older Koreans [ 27 ], it is also necessary to consider these points for examining the relationship between sensory function decline and LHGS.…”

Socioeconomic differences in handgrip strength and its association with measures of intrinsic capacity among older adults in six middle-income countries

“…Addressing our second objective, our study documents in six middle-income countries, a robust and comprehensive association of handgrip strength with measures of intrinsic capacity. These correspond to each of the five important domains identified by WHO: locomotion, psychological, vitality and cognitive capacity supporting the findings of previous fragmented studies 12 – 14 , 17 , 45 , 46 . For example, a study conducted among older adults aged 60 and above in Colombia showed significant association between handgrip strength and measures of intrinsic capacity such as vitality, sensory, cognition, and psychological capacities 13 .…”

“…For example, a study conducted among older adults aged 60 and above in Colombia showed significant association between handgrip strength and measures of intrinsic capacity such as vitality, sensory, cognition, and psychological capacities 13 . Our findings of inverse association of handgrip strength with depressive disorders, sensory impairments, and positive association with measures of cognition and gait speed are also consistent [12][13][14]17,45,46 .…”