Association Of Handgrip Strength, Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference And Depression Scale Among Adults: A Hospital Based Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Abstract

In the northeastern region of India, particularly, there has been limited research on the connection between handgrip strength, body mass index (BMI), and depression. The current study aimed to investigate whether obesity in adult women (aged 20 to 80) influenced the relationship between handgrip strength and the risk of depression. This research was conducted at Kolkata's Peerless Hospital from February 2022 to March 2023, involving a cross-sectional observational study with a total of 458 participants, both male and female, aged 18 to 80. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Peerless Hospital and B K Roy Research Center, located at 360 Pancha Sayar Rd, Sahid Smirity Colony, Pancha Sayar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700094 (PHH&RCLCREC/ 4020/2023). The study adhered to the ethical guidelines established by the institution's research committee and followed the principles outlined in the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its subsequent revisions to ensure consistent ethical standards in all procedures involving human participants. Prior to commencing the study, informed written consent was obtained from all participants. Older women with thyroid dysfunction, or hormone replacement therapy, amenorrhea, those taking vitamin D supplements and individuals with physical or mental challenges, and those who were generally uncooperative were excluded from the study. The results of the present study demonstrated a statistically significant association between depression and handgrip strength, as indicated by the Chi-Square test. Handgrip strength also displayed a significant negative correlation with BMI. Waist circumference (WC) showed a significant association with handgrip strength, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.66. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between WC and handgrip strength. When considering body fat percentage, the OR for handgrip strength was 2.92, and a significant association was observed between handgrip strength and body fat percentage.