Decline in instrumental activities of daily living associated with loss of hand grip strength in elderly patients hospitalized in geriatric ward

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between the ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and handgrip strength in hospitalized geriatric patients without cognitive impairment. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Elderly patients aged over 60 years of both genders admitted to geriatric patients ward were included. On the other hand, elderly with neurological, musculoskeletal and respiratory acute exacerbated diseases; individuals with medical indication of rest or use of clinical apparatus, cognitive impairment and/or delirium were excluded. Data were collected from medical records. The ability to perform IADL was assessed by Lawton Scale and the handgrip strength was measured using handheld dynamometry on the dominant upper limb. A descriptive analysis with mean and standard deviation was carried out. The Pearson correlation test was applied to verify association between the total score of Lawton Scale and handgrip strength. RESULTS: The study included 12 patients (75% women) whose mean age were 80.67±6.35 years. The mean of handgrip strength and total Lawton Scale score were 11.96±6.71 Kgf and 22.58±1.67 points, respectively. A moderate positive association between handgrip strength and Lawton Scale score (r=0.640; p=0.025) was found. CONCLUSION: The handgrip strength and IADLs were associated in this study population.

研究目的：验证无认知障碍的住院老年患者日常工具性活动（Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, IADL）能力与握力之间的关联。研究方法：本研究为横断面研究。纳入收治于老年病房、年龄≥60岁的两性老年患者；排除患有神经系统、肌肉骨骼系统及呼吸系统急性加重期疾病的老年患者，存在卧床或使用临床辅助器械医学指征的个体，以及存在认知障碍和/或谵妄者。研究数据来源于患者病历。采用Lawton量表评估日常工具性活动能力，使用手持握力计测量优势上肢的握力。统计分析采用描述性分析，以均值±标准差呈现结果；并采用Pearson相关检验分析Lawton量表总分与握力之间的关联。研究结果：本研究共纳入12例患者（女性占比75%），平均年龄为80.67±6.35岁。受试者的握力均值为11.96±6.71千克力，Lawton量表总分均值为22.58±1.67分。分析发现握力与Lawton量表总分之间存在中度正相关（r=0.640；p=0.025）。研究结论：在本次研究的人群中，握力与日常工具性活动能力存在关联。