Prevalence of depressive symptoms and their association with handgrip strength among middle-aged and older adults in Egypt: a cross-sectional study

Objectives: Depression is a prevalent mental health issue among the elderly, negatively impacting their quality of life and increasing healthcare costs. Handgrip strength (HGS) measures muscular strength and is associated with various health outcomes, including depression. However, research on the association between HGS and depressive symptoms among older adults in low- and middle-income countries is limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and examine their association with handgrip strength among middle-aged and older adults in Egypt. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: < 0.05. Results: This study revealed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among the participants was 62%. Weak HGS in the non-dominant hand was strongly associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 7.56). Moreover, significant predictors of depressive symptoms included being a housewife, having hypertension, visual impairment, and poor self-perceived health. Furthermore, depressive symptoms were more common among females and those with chronic illnesses. Conclusions: Weak handgrip strength is significantly associated with depressive symptoms among older adults in Egypt. HGS could serve as a simple, low-cost screening tool for depressive symptoms in geriatric care. Further research is recommended to explore this association in longitudinal studies.