Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39183633›Full record

SynthesisJournal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle2024

Factors associated with handgrip strength across the life course: A systematic review.

Leticia W Ribeiro, Sara Berndt, Gregore I Mielke, Jenny Doust, Gita D Mishra

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Sex hormones and menopause hormone therapy predict muscle strength across the lifespan.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Observational
  6. The crossroads between osteosarcopenia and intrinsic capacity-a narrative review.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2026
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Leticia W RibeiroSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2358-1894
Sara BerndtSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Gregore I MielkeSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Jenny DoustSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Gita D MishraSchool of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator APP2008702NHMRC APP2009577
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMuscle strength is essential for healthy ageing. Handgrip strength (HGS) has been recommended by expert bodies as the preferred measure of muscle strength, in addition to being considered a strong predictor of overall health. Cross-sectional studies have shown several potential factors associated with HGS, but a systematic review of factors predicting HGS over time has not previously been conducted. The aim of this study is to systematically review the literature on the factors associated with adult HGS [at follow-up(s) or its rate of change] across the life course.

methodsSearches were performed in MEDLINE via Ebsco, Embase and SPORTDiscus databases. Longitudinal studies assessing potential factors impacting adult HGS over time were included in the analyses. Based on previously established definitions of consistency of results, a semiquantitative analysis was conducted using the proportions of studies supporting correlations with HGS.

resultsA total of 117 articles were included in this review. Factors associated with HGS were grouped into 11 domains: demographic, socioeconomic, genetic, early life, body composition, health markers/biomarkers, health conditions, psychosocial, lifestyle, reproductive and environmental determinants. Overall, 103 factors were identified, of which 10 showed consistent associations with HGS over time (i.e., in at least four studies with ≥60% agreement in the direction of association). Factors associated with greater declines in HGS included increasing age, male sex, higher levels of inflammatory markers and the presence of cardiovascular diseases. Education level, medication use, and self-rated health were not associated with the rate of change in HGS. Increased birth weight was associated with a stronger HGS over time, whereas depressive symptoms were linked to a weaker HGS, and smoking habits showed null associations.

conclusionsComparison between studies and estimation of effect sizes were limited due to the heterogeneity in methods. Although sex and age may be the main drivers of HGS decline, it is crucial to prioritize modifiable factors such as inflammation and cardiovascular diseases in health interventions to prevent greater losses. Interventions to improve birth weight and mental health are also likely to produce positive effects on muscle strength. Our results point to the complexity of processes involving muscle strength and suggest that the need to better understand the determinants of HGS remains.

Indexed as

Hand StrengthAgingFemaleHumansMaleAgeingLife course perspectiveMuscle strengthMuscle weaknessRisk factors

Identifiers

PMID39183633
PMCPMC11634504

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.