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Published on: March 7, 2019
Objectively measured physical capability levels and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis
Rachel Cooper1, Diana Kuh, Rebecca Hardy
1MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing and Division of Population Health, University College London, London WC1B 5JU. r.cooper@nshd.mrc.ac.uk
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|September 11, 2010
Summary
Objective physical capability measures like grip strength and walking speed predict mortality risk in community-dwelling populations. Poorer performance indicates a higher risk of all-cause mortality, especially in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Objective measures of physical capability are increasingly recognized for their health implications.
- Understanding the association between physical capability and mortality is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis of objective physical capability measures and mortality.
- To examine associations between grip strength, walking speed, chair rising, and standing balance with mortality in community-dwelling populations.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished data.
- Searched Embase and Medline databases, supplemented by manual reference list searches and investigator contact.
- Included observational studies of community-dwelling individuals assessing physical capability and mortality.
Main Results:
- Consistent associations were found between all four physical capability measures and mortality.
- Poorer performance in grip strength, walking speed, chair rising, and standing balance was linked to higher all-cause mortality risk.
- Grip strength association with mortality was observed in both younger and older populations, unlike other measures primarily studied in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Objective physical capability measures are significant predictors of all-cause mortality in older community-dwelling populations.
- These measures can serve as valuable tools for identifying at-risk older individuals.
- Further research may explore the utility of these measures across diverse age groups.
