Factors associated with Muscle Strength in Older Men from a Rural Brazilian Community

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between socio-demographic indicators, lifestyle variables, health conditions, and muscle strength of older men from a rural community of southern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based household survey was carried out in a city in southern Brazil. A total of 207 older men (≥ 60 years) participated in the study. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured with a dynamometer and the timed chair stand test evaluated lower limb muscle strength/endurance (LLMS). Sociodemographic information, lifestyle and health conditions were obtained from subjects. The prevalence ratio was used as measure of association, by Poisson regression analysis (crude and adjusted). Results: The proportion of men who displayed poor HGS was 19.0% (IC95%:13.3-24.8) and poor LLMS was 25.3% (IC95%:18.9-31.7). Advancing age, illiteracy and more than three morbidities were associated with poor HGS and LLMS. Poor performance in the LLMS test was associated with lifelong agricultural work, unemployment and altered cognitive status. Conclusion: Factors associated with muscle strength are specific to the test.