Weak Grip Linked to Higher Heart Failure Risk Years Later
Graded Moderate — researchers followed 267,335 adults for about 15 years; as an observational study it cannot separate cause from effect.
- Design
- Prospective cohort study
- Participants
- 267,335
- Duration
- 15.3 years
- Funding
- China Scholarship Council–University of Liverpool joint scholarship
People with a weak grip developed heart failure more often in the following years, especially women and those under 60.
People in midlife with a weak grip were more likely to develop heart failure in the years that followed. Those with low grip strength relative to their BMI had a 76 percent higher risk. People with age-related muscle loss had a 63 percent higher risk. That means a weak grip plus little fat-free mass, which is mostly muscle.
The researchers used data from 267,335 adults in the UK Biobank. They were 56 on average and free of heart failure at the start. Over a median of 15 years, 10,233 of them developed it. The link was stronger in women and in people under 60. Those with weak muscles also had more signs of inflammation and less omega-3 fat in their blood. These blood values were tied to more heart failure as well.
Adding the blood values improved risk prediction only a little. Because the study only observed people, it cannot show that weak muscles cause heart failure. Muscle was estimated with a small electric current through the body. UK Biobank volunteers also tend to be healthy, and the very old are barely included.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.