Assessment of muscle strength using handgrip test in a middle-aged and elderly Russian population and its association with health characteristics

Aim. To establish reference values of handgrip test for a middle-aged and elderly population (35-74 years), as well as study the association of health characteristics and muscle strength.Material and methods. For the analysis, we used data from the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation-3 (ESSE-RF3) study, conducted in 2020-2022. The sample was selected similarly to the previous ESSE-RF stages. The sample included 27689 men and women aged 35-74 years from 14 Russian regions. Of the individual variables, the characteristics with the highest evidence level of influence on muscle strength were taken as covariates. Muscle strength was assessed by a handgrip test using a MEGEON 34090 device with an accuracy of 0,1 kg. Three measurements were taken for each arm in a standing position, and the maximum value was used in the analysis. Normative sex-specific handgrip test values were established regardless of age: a participant's handgrip value was considered reduced if it was 2 standard deviations below the average value of participants at the age with the best/highest scores.Results. The average handgrip test values for the entire male sample were 43,4±11,1 kg, while for the female sample — 27,6±6,1 kg. In men under 53 years of age, muscle strength decreases at a rate of 0,12 kg/year, then the decline accelerates to 0,48 kg/year. In women under 45,5 years of age, a slight and insignificant increase in muscle strength was detected by 0,02 kg/year, and after 45,5 years, handgrip value falls at a rate of 0,2 kg/year. Therefore, both men and women lose 1,3% of muscle strength per year to year and the decline rate do not differ. The peak age can be considered 35 years old, since at this age, the average muscle strength in men and women is 47,6±11,5 and 29,2±5,7 kg, respectively, and the calculated norm (M–2SD) for men was 47,6–2´11,5≈24 kg using rounding down, and for women it was 29,2– 2´5,7≈17 kg. With age, as expected, the proportion of people of both sexes with a metabolic syndrome level below the threshold increases, reaching 7,5% after 65 years. Multivariate regression analysis showed that, taking into account adjustments for covariates, for every 10 years, muscle strength decreases by an average of 3,1 kg in men and by 1,7 kg in women. Negative associations of metabolic syndrome with inflammation markers (fibrinogen and C-reactive protein) and noncommunicable diseases are also significant, but only men have significantly lower rates of metabolic syndrome in the presence of anxiety and depression, low income and urban residence.Conclusion. The use of handgrip test in any age range during medical examinations or preventive examinations of the adult population and informing primary care specialists about the results obtained can help improve the general health of the population.