Weight-Bearing Index Or Grip Strength, Which Is Better Physical Function Predictor For Well-Functioning Elderly?

Free health check-up service (FHCS), including blood screening and physical examination, has been promoted for adults over 65 years old in Taiwan. However physical functions are not evaluated due to time and manpower consuming. PURPOSE: To examine weight-bearing index (WBI, quadriceps strength/body weight) and grip strength (GS), which is the possible physical function predictor for well-functioning elderly. METHODS: One hundred and thirty well-functioning elderly (mean age 71.24±7.8) from FHCS were recruited as subjects. In addition to routine blood screen and physical examinations, body composition measurements (Body mass index, BMI; waist circumference; muscle volume), and physical function tests (Time Up and Go, TUG; Berg Balance Scale, BBS; GS; WBI) were also conducted. The relationship between predictors, WBI and GS, and individual parameters of body composition and physical function tests were analyzed using Pearson correlation. Then, subjects were divided into four different groups according to WBI and GS respectively. One-way ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc statistical analyzing was performed to examine the significance difference among different WBI and GS groups. RESULTS: Well-functioning subjects with BMI 23.46±3.2, waist 82.82±8.9 cm, muscle volume 37.88±6.8%, TUG 9.07±2.7sec, BBS 54.78±1.8, GS 28.23±1.0Kg, WBI 0.82±0.1, participated in their study. GS was significant correlated with TUG, BBS, waist, muscle volume (r=-.399,.231,.477,.447, p<0.001, respectively). WBI was only significant correlated with muscle volume (r=.825, p<0.001). Physical functions (TUG, BBS) of higher GS group were significantly better than the lower GS group (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). Physical functions (TUG, BBS) of higher WBI group were not significantly better than the lower WBI group (p>0.05). TUG score of four GS group were 10.54±2.8 sec, 9.17±2.5 sec, 8.79±2.5 sec, 7.60±2.0 sec, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GS is the better whole body physical function predictor to screen declining elderly, and it could be added in the FHCS.