The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
-
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Oct 2002
Comparative StudySkeletal muscle strength as a predictor of all-cause mortality in healthy men.
Low muscle strength is associated with mortality, presumably as a result of low muscle mass (sarcopenia) and physical inactivity. Grip strength was longitudinally collected in 1071 men over a 25-year period. Muscle mass was estimated by using 24-hour creatinine excretion and physical activity values, obtained by questionnaire. ⋯ In men >/=60 years, strength was more protective than the rate of loss, which persisted when muscle mass was considered. Strength and rate of change in strength contribute to the impact of sarcopenia on mortality. Although muscle mass and physical activity are important, they do not completely account for the impact of strength and changes in strength.