Prevalence of depressive symptoms and their association with handgrip strength among middle-aged and older adults in Egypt: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives Depression is a prevalent mental health issue among the elderly, negatively impacting their quality of life and increasing healthcare costs. Handgrip strength (HGS) measures muscular strength and is associated with various health outcomes, including depression. However, research on the association between HGS and depressive symptoms among older adults in low- and middle-income countries is limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and examine their association with handgrip strength among middle-aged and older adults in Egypt. Study design A cross-sectional study. Methods A total of 299 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 years were recruited using convenience sampling across five Egyptian governorates. Data were collected through structured, face-to-face interviews conducted by trained healthcare professionals. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Arabic-translated and locally validated EURO-D scale. HGS was evaluated using a simplified manual muscle test: participants were asked to firmly grip the assessor’s fingers, with strength rated on a 3-point scale based on the ability to resist finger pulling. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of depressive symptoms (EURO-D score ≥ 4), with significance set at p < 0.05. Results This study revealed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among the participants was 62%. Weak HGS in the non-dominant hand was strongly associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 7.56). Moreover, significant predictors of depressive symptoms included being a housewife, having hypertension, visual impairment, and poor self-perceived health. Furthermore, depressive symptoms were more common among females and those with chronic illnesses. Conclusions Weak handgrip strength is significantly associated with depressive symptoms among older adults in Egypt. HGS could serve as a simple, low-cost screening tool for depressive symptoms in geriatric care. Further research is recommended to explore this association in longitudinal studies.