The recent secular trend in grip strength among older adults: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Key summary points Aim Our aim was to investigate whether there has been a recent secular trend in the grip strength of older English adults, using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Findings We found evidence of a slight decline in mean grip strength between 2004 and 2013. T...
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| Published in: | European geriatric medicine Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 395 - 401 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cham
Springer International Publishing
01-06-2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Key summary points
Aim
Our aim was to investigate whether there has been a recent secular trend in the grip strength of older English adults, using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).
Findings
We found evidence of a slight decline in mean grip strength between 2004 and 2013. This decline is equivalent to 65-year-olds’ mean strength declining to that previously seen in individuals at age 69, and did not appear to be explained by differences in lifestyle risk factors.
Message
These findings are important since they raise the possibility that more recent cohorts of older people remain at similar, or possibly slightly greater, risk of the adverse consequences of weak muscle strength.
Purpose
Weaker grip strength in older adults is associated with adverse health outcomes and is a key component of sarcopenia. The secular trend of grip strength is, therefore, relevant in the setting of ageing populations. A recent study suggested differences in this trend among countries in mainland Europe. We used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) to investigate the recent secular trend of older English adults.
Methods
We used data on participants aged 50–89 having their first measurement of grip strength in waves 2 (2002/2003), 4 (2008/2009) or 6 (2012/2013) of ELSA. Grip was measured using a Smedley dynamometer. We expressed grip values as
Z
-scores (number of standard deviations above the age and gender mean from normative data) for use in linear regression analyses examining the annual secular trend after adjustment for potential confounders.
Results
We included a total of 11,476 participants from the three waves of ELSA. Grip strength declined across the three waves, with mean (SD)
Z
-scores of 0.01 (0.94), − 0.06 (0.97) and − 0.20 (0.98) in waves 2, 4 and 6, respectively. The annual
Z
-score decline after adjustments was 0.03 SDs (95% CI 0.02, 0.03) per year.
Conclusion
We saw evidence of a recent slight decline in the grip strength of older English adults. Over the 9-year period of this study, the decline seen is equivalent to 65-year-olds’ mean strength declining to that previously seen in individuals at age 69. Further monitoring of secular trends in grip strength and investigation of possible causes are warranted. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1878-7657 1878-7649 1878-7657 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s41999-019-00174-4 |