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Establishing reference values for handgrip strength in Turkish adults: a population-based approach to sarcopenia
Ayse Dikmeer1, Mustafa Levent2, Iskender Arda Nacar2
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Hacettepe University, 06230, Ankara, Türkiye. adikmeer@yahoo.com.
Background:
Handgrip strength is a reliable indicator of muscle strength and an essential diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia, as endorsed by recent international consensus statements. However, accurate interpretation requires population-specific reference values due to geographical and ethnic variations. This study aimed to establish sex-specific cut-off values for low handgrip strength among healthy Turkish adults.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 502 healthy Turkish adults (254 women, 248 men) aged 20-39 years. Anthropometric data, gait speed, and handgrip strength were assessed using standardized protocols. Continuous variables were summarized using descriptive statistics, and one-way ANOVA was used to compare handgrip strength across age categories within each sex. Cut-off values for handgrip strength were calculated as two standard deviations below the sex-specific mean.
Results:
The mean handgrip strength was 25.36 ± 4.66 kg for women and 42.39 ± 8.17 kg for men. Sex-specific cut-off values for low handgrip strength were determined as 16 kg for women and 26 kg for men. Handgrip strength values increased with age within the 20-39 year range for both sexes.
Conclusion:
This study provides updated, population-specific handgrip strength cut-offs for Turkish adults. These values can facilitate the accurate diagnosis of low muscle strength and support the diagnosis of sarcopenia in clinical practice in Türkiye. Longitudinal studies are warranted to validate their prognostic utility.