The simple task of lifting five kilograms serves as a predictor of age-related disorders in old adults

Abstract

Abstract Muscle weakness is a risk factor for multiple diseases. However, most protocols to assess muscle weakness require clinical settings. A difficulty lifting 5 kg may be a simple measure of muscle weakness in domestic settings. However, no relevant study on assessing muscle weakness has been reported. We investigated the associations of difficulty lifting 5 kg with various musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological diseases in geriatric adults aged 50 or above from 15 countries (n = 51,536) over five years. The data was collected by the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) conducted between 2013 and 2020. Overall, 10,025 (19.5%) respondents exhibited difficulty lifting 5 kg at baseline in 2013. Over the next four years, these respondents exhibited higher risks for developing a low quality of life (QoL) (9.42%), depression (8.14%), low handgrip strength (7.38%), and osteoarthritis (6.98%) after adjusting for age and gender. Additionally, these respondents exhibited mild to moderate risks for developing rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, or hip fracture (all p < 0.05). After adjusting for age and country, the risks of developing various diseases were higher in men than in women. Collectively, difficulty lifting 5 kg can herald the onset of several cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders along with a reduced QoL. We suggest that difficulty lifting 5 kg may be a valuable indicator of muscle weakness and poor health in domestic settings.