The combination of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength, and mortality risk
Publication: European Journal of Epidemiology
Kim Y, White T, Wijndaele K, Westgate K, Sharp SJ, Helge JW, et al.
28 March 2018
Little is known about the combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and hand grip strength (GS) with mortality in general adult populations.
The purpose of this study was to compare the relative risk of mortality for CRF, GS, and their combination. In UK Biobank, a prospective cohort of > 0.5 million adults aged 40–69 years, CRF was measured through submaximal bike tests; GS was measured using a hand-dynamometer.
This analysis is based on data from 70,913 men and women who provided valid CRF and GS data, and with no history of heart attack/stroke/cancer at baseline.
CRF and GS are both independent predictors of mortality. Improving both CRF and muscle strength, as opposed to either of the two alone, may be the most effective behavioral strategy to reduce all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk.
