Synergistic associations of visual and self-reported hearing acuity with low handgrip strength in older adults: a population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background It is unclear whether visual and hearing acuity are independently or synergistically associated with muscle strength. We aimed to examine the associations of visual and self-reported hearing acuity with low handgrip strength and the additive interaction between visual and hearing acuity on low handgrip strength in people over 60 years. Method Data of 3,075 individuals aged over 60 years from the 2017 and 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for this cross-sectional study. Low handgrip strength was defined based on the 20th percentile of the study population (< 30.4 kg for male and < 17.7 kg for female). Visual and self-reported hearing acuity were each divided into three categories: good, moderate, and impaired. Multiple logistic regression and relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) were performed. Results Of the 3,075 participants, 993 (32.3 %) demonstrated low handgrip strength. Low handgrip strength was more prevalent in participants with moderate (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.54, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.12–2.12) and impaired visual acuity (AOR = 2.00, 95 % CI = 1.34–2.96). Both moderate and impaired self-reported hearing acuity were significantly associated with low handgrip strength (moderate: AOR = 1.25, 95 % CI = 1.01–1.55; impaired: AOR = 1.66, 95 % CI = 1.15–2.38). The more severe the sensory function decline, the higher the association with muscle weakness. Moreover, combined sensory impairments were associated with deteriorating low handgrip strength (AOR = 8.38), with significantly strong additive interactions (RERI = 2.61, 95 % CI = 2.52–2.70). Conclusions Awareness is needed regarding the risk of reduced muscle strength in individuals with moderate and impaired sensory function. Older people with sensory function decline in clinical settings may benefit from programs such as exercise prescription to prevent muscle weakness.

Hearing loss and physical function in the general population: A cross-sectional study

“…cross-sectional design, despite that the assumed causal direction between hearing loss and physical function in the present study was converse to previous studies, i.e., physical function as a dependent variable [15][16][17]36]. However, there are some differences among this study and previous studies.…”

“…Few studies have examined this association in the general population. A crosssectional study showed that low handgrip strength was associated with self-reported hearing loss in individuals over 60 years old [36]. A prospective study reported a significant effect of physical fitness on hearing loss using composite z scores from handgrip strength tests and four other tests, including vertical jump height, single-leg balance with eye closed, standing forward bending, and whole-body reaction time [37].…”

A genetic correlation and bivariate genome-wide association study of grip strength and depression

“…Participants were required to squeeze the grip of the handgrip dynamometer (WCS-100, Nantong, China) as strongly as they could, with each hand tested 3 times. Like some other studies [ 35 , 36 ], the maximum value was taken as the grip strength for analysis.…”

Association of Dual Sensory Impairment with Declining Physical Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…Sensory impairment, in the form of HI and VI, is associated with several problems experienced by older adults. Firstly, it is associated with a decline in physical characteristics, such as muscle strength, gait, and cardiorespiratory fitness [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], and deteriorating physical function increases the risk of falls and fractures in older adults [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In addition, sensory impairment is related to limitations in performing activities of daily living (ADLs) [ 13 ], reduced social interaction [ 14 ], and deteriorating quality of life in older adults [ 15 ].…”

“…In addition, DSI is known to result in more severe adverse effects, in terms of deterioration of physical function, than SSI in older adults [ 7 , 19 ]. However, a majority of studies about the effects of DSI on physical function in older adults were limited in that they evaluated sensory impairment and physical function using self-report questionnaires rather than objective and quantitative methods [ 7 , 19 , 20 ]. Furthermore, it was difficult to elucidate the causal relationship between DSI and the decline in physical function since most of these studies had a cross-sectional design [ 7 , 20 , 21 ].…”