Functional Status Modifies the Association of Blood Pressure with Death in Elders: Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine whether grip strength, gait speed, and the combination of the two physical functioning measures modified the association of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) with mortality.

Design

Nationally representative cohort study.

Setting

Health and Retirement Study.

Participants

7,492 U.S. adults aged ≥65 years.

Measurements

Grip strength was measured by a hand dynamometer and classified as normal (≥16 kg for female; ≥26 kg for male) and weak. Gait speed was assessed over a 98.5-inch walk and classified as non-slow (≥0.60 m/s for female; ≥0.52 m/s for male) and slow.

Results

Over an average follow-up time of 6.0 years, 1,870 (25.0%) participants died. After adjustment for socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical measures, ele

SUBMITTER: Wu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5553704 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature