Handgrip strength and mortality in the oldest old population: The Leiden 85-plus study

Abstract

Background: Poor muscular strength has been shown to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality in diverse samples of middle-aged and elderly people. However, the oldest old population (i.e., over 85 years) is underrepresented in such studies. Our objective was to assess the association between muscular strength and mortality in the oldest old population. Methods: We included 555 participants (65% women) from the Leiden 85-plus study, a prospective population-based study of all 85-year-old inhabitants of Leiden, Netherlands. We measured the handgrip strength of participants at baseline and again at age 89 years. We collected baseline data on comorbidities, functional status, levels..