Skeletal 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. Survival analysis examined the impact of grip strength and rate of change in strength on all-cause mortality over 40 years. Lower and declining strength are associated with increased mortality, independent of physical activity and muscle mass. In men /=60 years, strength was more protective than the rate of loss, which persisted when muscle mass was considered. Strength and rate of…