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Correlates of performance-based measures of muscle function in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.
Tuesday,2012-11-06 12:27 America/Los_Angeles — eenright
| Title | Correlates of performance-based measures of muscle function in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 1997 |
| Authors | Hirsch, CH, Fried, LP, Harris, T, Fitzpatrick, A, Enright, P, Schulz, R |
| Journal | J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pagination | M192-200 |
| Date Published | 1997 Jul |
| ISSN | 1079-5006 |
| Keywords | Aging, Anthropometry, Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena, Female, Gait, Hand Strength, Health Status, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Muscles, Pressure, Regression Analysis, Respiration |
| Abstract | <p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>It is unknown how much age-related changes in muscle performance represent normal aging versus the effects of chronic disease and life style. We examined the correlates of four performance measures-gait speed, timed chair stands (TCS), grip strength, and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP)-using baseline data from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), a population-based study of risk factors for heart disease and stroke in persons > or = age 65.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>We analyzed data from the 5,201 CHS participants. Variables were arranged into nine categories: Personal Characteristics, Anthropometry, Physical Condition, Reported Functional Status, Subjective Health, Psychological Factors, Symptoms, Cognitive Status, Habits and Lifestyle, and Prevalent Disease. Independent correlates were identified using stepwise linear regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>The regression models explained 17.7-25.4% of the observed variability. Although age significantly correlated with each measure, it explained little of the variability (< or = 5.7%). Anthropometric features plus physical condition explained 14.0-17.4% of the variability for grip strength and MIP, but 2.8-12.9% of the variability for gait speed and the log of TCS. Subjective health and psychological factors explained 1.8-9.4% of the variability in gait speed and the log of TCS, but < or = 1.2% of the variability in grip strength and MIP. Variables for prevalent disease explained < or = 1.3% of the variability in each measure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>After age 64, age explained little of the variability in muscle performance in a large sample of mostly functionally intact, community-dwelling older persons. Complex measures such as gait speed were more associated with subjective factors than were direct measures of strength. Prevalent disease contributed surprisingly little to muscle performance.</p> |
| Alternate Journal | J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. |
| PubMed ID | 9224430 |
| Grant List | N01 HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01 HC-85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States N01 HC-85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States |