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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Richard DoddsORCiD, Dr Eduwin PakpahanORCiD, Dr Antoneta Granic, Dr Karen Davies, Professor Avan SayerORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
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 (2002/3), 4 (2008/9) or 6 (2012/13) 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 nine-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.
Author(s): Dodds RM, Pakpahan E, Granic A, Davies K, Sayer AA
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: European Geriatric Medicine
Year: 2019
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
Pages: 395-401
Print publication date: 01/06/2019
Online publication date: 06/03/2019
Acceptance date: 16/02/2019
Date deposited: 18/02/2019
ISSN (print): 1878-7649
ISSN (electronic): 1878-7657
Publisher: Springer
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-019-00174-4
DOI: 10.1007/s41999-019-00174-4
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