The Relationship of Blood Sugar and Albumin Levels to Hand Grip Strength and Walking Speed in the Elderly

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between blood glucose and albumin levels, handgrip strength, and walking speed in elderly individuals in Semarang, Indonesia. Forty female participants aged 60-72 were recruited from a local health center. Handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer, whereas walking speed was assessed using the 10meter walk test. Blood glucose and albumin levels were determined by laboratory analysis. The mean age of participants was 63.70 ± 3.16 years, with an average handgrip strength of 15.95 ± 3.17 kg and walking speed of 1.03 ± 0.21 m/s. Most participants had normal blood glucose (87.5%) and albumin (97.5%) levels. Statistical analysis revealed no significant correlations between blood glucose or albumin levels and the measured functional parameters. However, a significant positive relationship was observed between handgrip strength and walking speed (r = 0.331, p = 0.037). With increasing age, the study found a decreasing trend in handgrip strength and walking speed. While blood glucose and albumin levels did not show significant associations with muscle strength or walking speed, the positive correlation between handgrip strength and walking speed supports their use as key indicators of physical function in the elderly population. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining muscle strength to preserve mobility in older adults. However, further research is needed to elucidate the complex relationships between metabolic factors and physical performance in this population.