Hand grip strength and future hospitalisation in Māori and non-Māori New Zealand octogenarians: the LiLACS NZ cohort study

Posted by Joanna Hikaka on 14 August 2026

Moyes S, Selak V, Plank L, Hikaka J, Kerse N. 2026. Hand grip strength and future hospitalisation in Māori and non-Māori New Zealand octogenarians: the LiLACS NZ cohort study. New Zealand Medical Journal

26 Hikaka publication
Abstract:

Aim: With the population ageing, age-related illness and hospitalisation are of concern. Chronic sarcopenia, low muscle strength and mass, and hand grip strength (HGS) are known to be associated with future hospitalisation in older people. The aim here was to determine the association of ethnicity and sex with these relationships in New Zealand octogenarians.

Methods: This paper used data from the LiLACS NZ study, of 421 Māori and 516 non-Māori in 2010–2011 with follow-up hospitalisation data for 13 years. Generalised linear models tested the association between HGS or probable chronic sarcopenia (PCS; defined as a HGS of ≤27kg for men, ≤16kg for women) and hospitalisation rate and total time in hospital. These models were run separately for each ethnicity and sex.

Results: Men had greater mean HGS at recruitment than women (30.8 [standard deviation 7.0] Māori men, 30.3 [6.2] non-Māori men, 20.0 [5.2] Māori women, 18.4 [4.5] non-Māori women). HGS was associated with the future hospitalisation rate for Māori women and non-Māori men (adjusted incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval] of 0.968 [0.942–0.995] and 0.970 [0.951–0.991], respectively) but not for non-Māori women or Māori men. HGS was also associated with future time in hospital for Māori and non Māori men. PCS was associated with an increased future hospitalisation rate for non-Māori men (1.439 [1.097–1.888]) and total time in hospital for Māori and non-Māori men.

Conclusions: Investment in reducing PCS could reduce the frequency and total length of hospitalisation for older people and reduce inequities for Indigenous Māori in health outcomes.

You can also help by

  • Spreading the word about what we do / share this newsletter
  • Donating your time to the Friends Supporters to help with fundraising and committee work
  • Encouraging your children and grandchildren to invest in their futures by donating time and money (a baby girl born today has a 1 in 3 chance of living to 100 , a boy 1 in 4 and is likely to be fitter and healthier–think about the implications of that)
  • Consider a bequest