Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2021 Nov;19(4):721-730. 10.9758/cpn.2021.19.4.721.

Relationship between Handgrip Strength and Low-grade Inflammation in Older Adults with Depression

• Kang KY
• Jung YE
• Jang H
• Kim MD
• Bahk WM

• KMID: 2522979
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2021.19.4.721

Abstract

Objective
The relationship among physical functional decline, low-grade inflammation, and depression remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hand grip strength (HGS) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in a large sample with depression.
Methods
This study used data obtained from a representative Korean sample of 9,402 people who participated in the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Physical function was assessed using a digital grip strength dynamometer. Depression was identified using a cutoff of 5 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and high hs-CPR level was defined as ≥ 3.0 mg/L.
Results
In older adults (≥ 60 years) with depression, 43.8% of those with high hs-CRP levels had low HGS, compared to 21.8% of those with hs-CRP levels ＜ 3.0 mg/L (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed that, after adjustments for potentially confounding factors, high hs-CRP was independently associated with lower HGS (B = −2.25; 95% confidence interval = −4.49 to −0.02) in older adults with depression, but not in younger or middle-aged adults with depression.
Conclusion
These findings suggest a significant correlation between physical functional decline and low-grade inflammation in older adults with depression.

Keyword

Hand grip strength; C-reactive protein; PHQ-9; Depression; Inflammation; Older adults