Handgrip strength and antropometry of a population of Peruvian older adults

AIM: Population aging is a worldwide phenomenon leading to increased life expectancy without necessarily meaning more years of autonomous life. Frailty is characterized by diminished strength, resistance and physiological function that increase vulnerability leading to dependency and mortality. While frailty diagnoses requires a clinical assessment of the patients overall health including at least five different criteria, the relationship among them it is little explored. Peru´s recent economic and political stability has led to increased life expectancy demanding studies to inform evidence-based public policy. METHODS: This study focused on a population of older adults (N=486) who served in the military or are related (parents and spouses) to military personnel. Our results describe socioeconomic, anthropometric and functional indicators of health. RESULTS: The anthropometric characteristics indicate that men have higher grip strength (23.9 vs. 17.0 kg.f, respectively) than women. However, the percentage of persons with gait speed lower than 0.8 m/s was higher in women than in men (59% vs. 45%, respectively). These two criteria are correlated in men and women, and the level of discrimination of slow walkers (

AIM：人口老龄化是全球性的现象，它导致了寿命的延长，但并不必然意味着自主生活的年数增加。衰弱性表现为力量、抵抗力和生理功能的减弱，这增加了脆弱性，导致依赖和死亡率上升。尽管衰弱性的诊断需要对患者的整体健康状况进行临床评估，包括至少五个不同的标准，但它们之间的关系却鲜有深入研究。秘鲁最近的经济和政治稳定导致了寿命的延长，迫切需要研究以指导基于证据的公共政策。方法：本研究聚焦于一组老年成人（N=486）群体，他们曾服役于军队或与军队人员有关联（父母和配偶）。我们的研究结果描述了社会经济、体质和健康功能指标。结果：体质特征表明，男性握力（分别为23.9 kg.f和17.0 kg.f）高于女性。然而，行走速度低于0.8 m/s的人数在女性中高于男性（分别为59%和45%）。这两项标准在男性和女性中均存在相关性，且慢速行走的水平在男性和女性之间具有显著的差异性。