Medical Sciences · Nov 12, 2026
Handgrip Strength as a Bedside Marker of Frailty and Functional Trajectory During Hospitalization in Older Adults
By Constantin AO, Bîlteanu L, Mărzan MD et al.
Background/Objectives: Hospitalization frequently exacerbates muscle wasting and functional decline in vulnerable older adults, yet comprehensive geriatric assessments are often too time-consuming. This study evaluated the clinical utility of baseline and longitudinal bilateral handgrip strength (HGS), measured via a Squegg® digital dynamometer, as a rapid bedside marker of frailty and functional trajectory in hospitalized older adults. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 131 older adults (mean age 74.9 ± 9.7 years, 75.6% female) admitted to an acute geriatric unit. Bilateral HGS was measured at admission and discharge using the Squegg® digital dynamometer. Participants were also evaluated using the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) for frailty, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test for functional mobility, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive performance. Results: Bilateral mean HGS improved significantly from admission (18.5 ± 8.7 kg) to discharge (20.7 ± 9.1 kg), representing a mean within-participant increase of 2.16 ± 2.94 kg (p < 0.001), with 77.9% of the cohort exhibiting a positive trajectory. Admission HGS was strongly and inversely correlated with baseline EFS scores and TUG. In multivariable linear regression, higher EFS scores were associated with lower baseline HGS after adjustment for the included covariates. Exploratory models provided no statistically significant evidence of an association between baseline HGS or longitudinal HGS change and length of hospital stay (mean: 11.9 ± 1.8 days). Conclusions: Bedside digital handgrip strength may provide a complementary marker of frailty and functional mobility in hospitalized older adults. Measurement reliability and screening accuracy were not assessed in this study.