Abstract
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Background
Reduced muscular strength is associated with an increased risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality, heart attack and stroke. At older ages, reduced strength is associated with impaired mobility, risk of falls, and disability. Various criteria are used to determine reduced strength.
Data and Methods
Data on grip strength among 3,181 respondents aged 60 to 79 from the 2007 to 2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey were used to calculate the prevalence of reduced strength based on sex-specific percentile and t-score cut-points and cut-points of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Logistic regression was used to identify significant associations between reduced strength and mobility, disability and self-rated health.
Results
Based on stricter criteria, the prevalence of reduced strength among household residents aged 60 to 79 ranged from 3% to 5%; based on less strict criteria, the prevalence ranged from 10% to 18%. Compared with people with normal strength, those with reduced strength had higher odds of impaired mobility (ranging from 3.40 to 8.33, depending on the cut-point), poor or fair self-rated health (2.19 to 4.20), and moderate-to-severe disability (2.21 to 2.60).
Interpretation
Estimates of the prevalence of reduced grip strength varied by cut-point. Reduced strength was significantly associated with impaired mobility, moderate-to-severe disability, and poor or fair self-rated health. Further research is required to determine if associations between reduced strength and other health outcomes vary by cut-point.
Keywords
Grip strength, muscle weakness, reduced muscle strength, sarcopenia
Findings
Reduced muscular strength has been associated with an increased risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality, heart attack, and stroke. At older ages, reduced strength is associated with impaired mobility, risk of falls, disability, and lower health-related quality of life. [Full Text]
Authors
Author: Suzy L. Wong (suzy.wong@canada.ca)is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
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What is already known on this subject?
- Among older adults, reduced muscular strength is associated with impaired mobility, risk of falls, disability, and mortality.
- Criteria for determining reduced strength vary.
What does this study add?
- Estimates of the prevalence of reduced grip strength at ages 60 to 79 differed by cut-point.
- Reduced strength was significantly associated with impaired mobility, poor or fair self-rated health, and severe-to-moderate disability.
- Research is required to determine if associations between reduced strength and other health outcomes vary by cut-point.
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