Comparison of Muscle Strength and The Ability of Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults Requiring Care With and Without Hypertension.

Objectives: Few studies have examined whether older adults requiring care who have hypertension have lower muscle mass, muscle strength, physical function, and activities of daily living (ADL) capacity than those without hypertension.

Methods: This study included 163 participants aged ≥65 years who required care. The appendicular muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Handgrip and leg muscle strength (LMS) were used to assess muscle strength, and short physical performance batteries were used to assess physical function. The ADL capacity was evaluated using the Barthel Index. Participants were divided into two groups based on the absence or presence of hypertension (non-HY and HY groups, respectively).

Results: LMS and ADL capacity were significantly lower in HY group than that in non-HY group. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that LMS and ADL capacity were significantly associated with the absence or presence of hypertension, even after adjusting for confounding factors (p < 0.05). Moreover, LMS was a significant independent predictor of ADL capacity (bathing and ascending and descending stairs, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: These results suggest that maintaining or improving LMS may help preserve ADL capacity in older adults requiring care who have hypertension.