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Handgrip Strength and the Association Between Depression and Cancer in Older Adults
Rizwan Qaisar1,2,3, M Azhar Hussain4,5, Asima Karim1
1Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Summary
Handgrip strength (HGS) influences the link between depression and cancer risk in older adults. Higher HGS amplifies the association between depression and cancer, impacting health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Depression is a significant health concern in older adults.
- The relationship between depression and cancer risk is complex and warrants further investigation.
- Handgrip strength (HGS) is a recognized indicator of overall health and frailty in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the moderating role of handgrip strength (HGS) in the association between depression and the risk of developing 23 types of cancer.
- To analyze this relationship in a large cohort of European adults aged 50 and over.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cross-sectional data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) spanning 2013-2021.
- Employed logistic regression with an interaction term to assess the moderating effect of HGS.
- Included a sample of 93,545 participants from 28 European countries.
Main Results:
- Individuals with depression had a higher cancer risk (8.5%) compared to those without (4.7%).
- Lower HGS was associated with a greater cancer risk (7.78%) than normal HGS (5.48%).
- HGS significantly moderated the depression-cancer relationship (β = 0.00277, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Higher handgrip strength intensifies the link between depression and cancer risk in the elderly.
- This finding highlights HGS as a crucial factor in understanding cancer risk among older adults with depression.
- Interventions targeting HGS may play a role in mitigating cancer risk in this demographic.
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