Age- and gender-specific reference values and related factors of handgrip strength of healthy Turkish adults aged 20 to 89 years: A cross-sectional study

Handgrip strength is a well-established marker of health, mortality, disability, and disease risk. Handgrip strength scores must be interpreted using the normative data for the geographic region and ethnic group. This study aimed to determine normative handgrip strength values and assess associations with anthropometric and demographic measures in the Turkish population. The study included 428 healthy adults aged 20-89 and stratified them into seven age groups by decade. Handgrip strength was evaluated using a Jamar hand-held dynamometer. Demographic and anthropometric data of the participants were recorded. The Pearson correlation analysis assessed the linear relationships among handgrip strength, demographic, and anthropometric measures. The mean right- and left-handgrip strength values were 32.95 ± 11.20 kg and 29.93 ± 10.11 kg, respectively. Men had greater handgrip strength than women across all age groups (p < 0.05). Cross-sectional comparisons showed higher handgrip strength in the third and fourth decades and lower values in the older age groups (p < 0.05). Age was negatively correlated with right- and left-handgrip strength (r = −0.405 and −0.453, respectively; p < 0.001), whereas height (r = 0.696 and 0.712) and body weight (r = 0.398 and 0.390) were positively correlated with handgrip strength (p < 0.001). Age- and gender-specific handgrip strength reference values were obtained from a sample of healthy adults living in İzmir, Türkiye. These values may be useful for comparison in populations with similar characteristics; however, they should not be interpreted as nationally representative norms for the Turkish adult population.