Mixed
Low handgrip strength is significantly associated with a higher number of chronic diseases and multimorbidity in adults aged 50 and older, independent of chronological age, BMI, and other confounders.
Get your handgrip strength measured as part of a routine health check, especially if you are over 50. Low strength is a strong signal of underlying chronic disease burden, potentially more so than your age alone. While this study is observational, maintaining or improving muscle strength through resistance training is a feasible strategy to potentially reduce the risk of multiple chronic diseases and premature mortality.
Low handgrip strength was significantly associated with increased odds of having five and three chronic diseases in men and women, respectively, after controlling for age, body mass index, history of smoking, educational level, marital level and comorbidity.
Why this rating
Large cross-sectional cohort (n=1145) with rigorous adjustment for confounders, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
Source
Association of handgrip strength with chronic diseases and multimorbidity
Ching‐Lung Cheung et al. · AGE · 2012
DOI 10.1007/s11357-012-9385-y
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