Age- and sex-related differences in muscle strength and physical performance in older Chinese.

Abstract

Little is known about muscle strength and physical performance in Chinese. This study aimed to assess the age- and sex-related differences in muscle strength and physical performance in older Chinese. Three hundred and eight healthy participants (110 males and 198 females) age 68.3 ± 6.1 (mean ± SD) years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The handgrip muscle strength (HGS) of the dominant hand was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. Physical performance was assessed by the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). The EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) was used to evaluate participants' health status. Men showed higher levels of HGS with a smaller percentage having low muscle strength compared with women. No differences were observed in TUG between sexes. No significant association of TUG and age was observed in males. However, older females had increased TUG and hence poorer performance. Good health status was associated with better physical performance but was not related to muscle strength in either sex. In men, there was no correlation between age and TUG, although a negative association with handgrip muscle strength was observed. For women, both muscle strength and physical performance declined with age. The sex-related differences in aging effects on physical performance in our study could partly explain why women have a higher incidence of hip fracture than men. Chinese women may be more vulnerable to severe sarcopenia in old age than men.