Small differences in handgrip strength between hands may indicate a higher risk of death, according to a multinational study published in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

The analysis included 107,256 adults aged 50 years and older from 28 countries participating in the SHARE cohort (2004–2022). Using time-varying Cox regression models, investigators examined the relationship between handgrip strength asymmetry and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality over an average follow-up of 7.3 years.

An asymmetry of 4–5 kg was linked to a 6% higher all-cause mortality risk and a 15% higher cardiovascular mortality risk. Differences of ≥10 kg were associated with a 32% greater risk of all-cause death and a 39% higher cardiovascular mortality risk. The risk rose further with asymmetry ≥15 kg.

These findings highlight handgrip asymmetry as a low-cost, practical screening measure that could complement standard mortality risk assessment in older adults.