BODY COMPOSITION AND HAND GRIP STRENGTH IN HEALTHY COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN SWEDEN

Background: Longevity increases worldwide but there are few studies on body composition and hand grip strength in populations over 80 years. Given high prevalence of chronic disease and functional disability in octogenarians, it may be difficult to distinguish effects of ageing from those imposed by disease. The European Consensus definition of sarcopenia recommends using both low muscle mass and function for diagnosis. Objectives: Examine body composition and hand grip strength in a selected group of community-dwelling older adults with high level of functional independence. In addition, longitudinal changes in handgrip strength were examined using previously collected data. Design: Cross-sectional body composition and hand grip strength with a four year retrospective analysis on previously assessed hand grip strength. Setting: Measurements were conducted by home visits. Participants: 102 community-dwelling 83-96 year-olds, 50 % women. Measurements: Hand grip strength was registered by a dynamometer and body composition analysis using bioimpedance spectroscopy. Results: According to European Consensus definition, only 6/102 had normal muscle mass - no men, although 78 % of men and 40 % of women had normal muscle strength. Since previously collected data four years earlier, men had lost strength (p<0.001), while women had not (p=0.202). Conclusions: Subject characteristics and health status support well-preserved body energy, protein stores and muscle strength. Low muscle mass was much more prevalent than low muscle strength. Results may give an indication of what constitutes a healthy body composition in oldest old and could serve as a starting point for reference values on healthy body composition in octogenarians.