Hand grip strength: age- and gender-stratified normative data in Egyptian population-based study by the Egyptian Academy of Bone and Muscle Health

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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to establish age- and gender-stratified normative data for hand grip strength (HGS) in a population-based sample of healthy Egyptian adults and to analyze its relationship with various socio-demographic and anthropometric parameters. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 2,247 healthy Egyptian participants (900 men, 1,347 women). HGS was measured in kilograms (kg) using a digital hand dynamometer following a standardized bilateral protocol. Anthropometric data (including BMI, hand size, and body circumferences) and socio-demographic characteristics (marital status and occupation) were collected. Data were stratified by age decade and gender for mean, confidence interval, and percentile reference allocation. Results: HGS exhibited highly significant gender dimorphism, with men demonstrating significantly higher strength than women across all age categories ( p < 0.001). In both sexes, HGS peaked in the 18–30-year age cohort, with men averaging 46.6 + 17.5 kg (Right) and women averaging 25.8 + 10.8 kg (Right). HGS showed a continuous, significant decline across successive age decades that was noticeably steeper in men (Right HGS vs. age: r = -0.580, p < 0.01) than in women (Right HGS vs. age: r = -0.184, p < 0.01), though women’s right HGS demonstrated a distinct stabilization plateau between ages 51 and 71+. Correlation analysis showed that HGS was positively linked to dominant hand size and calf circumference in both sexes ( p < 0.01). In men, weak but significant negative correlations were observed with BMI ( r = -0.144) and mid-arm circumference ( r = -0.103), whereas BMI and waist circumference had no statistically significant correlation with HGS in women ( p > 0.05). Socio-demographic stratification revealed that handgrip strength significantly varied by marital status and occupation ( p < 0.001), with single individuals and students achieving the highest baseline metrics. Conclusion: This study establishes the first comprehensive, age- and gender-stratified normative database and percentile reference values for HGS in an Egyptian cohort. These findings supply clinicians with a vital, population-specific diagnostic standard for risk-stratifying muscle wasting, frailty, and sarcopenia. The sharper age-related decline seen in men compared to the late-life plateau observed in women highlights distinct physiological trajectories that warrant further clinical investigation.

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