BACKGROUND: Weak handgrip strength and slow timed up-and-go (TUG) time are known risk factors for hospitalization among older adults
however, few studies have investigated the relationships between these physical tests and future hospitalization costs. METHODS: We used data from 13,613 participants in the population-based Singapore Chinese Health Study who underwent assessment for handgrip strength and TUG time at a mean age of 74 years. Hospitalization costs for the subsequent year, among those who survived for at least one year thereafter, were ascertained via linkage with administrative healthcare finance data. We analyzed costs using a two-part model that contained a probit regression model in the first part, and a generalized linear regression model with gamma distribution and log link in the second. RESULTS: Handgrip strength showed a dose-dependent inverse relationship with hospitalization costs (P CONCLUSIONS: Weak handgrip strength and slow TUG time were independently associated with increased hospitalization costs among older adults.