--- title: "Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength)" description: "Lower grip strength is associated with increased risk of mortality and various diseases, and can improve the accuracy of health risk predictions." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.html" type: "study" study_key: "s153" journal: "BMJ" year: 2018 pmid: "29739772" doi: "10.1136/bmj.k1651" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength) [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength) **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s153 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | BMJ | | Year | 2018 | | PMID | [29739772](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29739772/) | | DOI | [10.1136/bmj.k1651](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k1651) | | Study key | s153 | ## Takeaway Lower grip strength is associated with increased risk of mortality and various diseases, and can improve the accuracy of health risk predictions. ## The question Does grip strength associate with disease-specific incidence and mortality, and can it improve the predictive ability of an existing office-based risk score? ## Hypothesis The study implicitly hypothesizes that lower grip strength will be associated with higher incidence and mortality from various diseases, and that adding grip strength to an office-based risk score will enhance its predictive power. ## Methods This was a prospective population-based study using data from the UK Biobank, involving 502,293 participants (54% women) aged 40-69 years. The study followed participants for a mean of 7.1 years to assess all-cause mortality and incidence/mortality from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, COPD, and various cancers. ## Results Over a mean follow-up of 7.1 years, 13,322 (2.7%) participants died. For every 5 kg lower grip strength, hazard ratios were significantly higher for all-cause mortality (1.20 for women, 1.16 for men) and cause-specific mortality from cardiovascular disease (1.19 women, 1.22 men), respiratory disease (1.31 women, 1.24 men), COPD (1.24 women, 1.19 men), all cancer (1.17 women, 1.10 men), colorectal cancer (1.17 women, 1.18 men), lung cancer (1.17 women, 1.08 men), and breast cancer (1.24 women). Prostate cancer showed no significant association (1.05). Muscle weakness (grip strength <26 kg for men, <16 kg for women) was linked to higher hazards for most health outcomes, except colon cancer in women and prostate/lung cancer in both sexes. Adding handgrip strength improved the C-index for predicting all-cause mortality (0.013), cardiovascular mortality (0.012), and cardiovascular disease incidence (0.009). ## Conclusion Higher grip strength is associated with a range of positive health outcomes, and its inclusion significantly improves the predictive ability of an established office-based risk score for several key health indicators. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study. ## Verbatim from the abstract > Higher grip strength was associated with a range of better health outcomes ## Hazard Ratios for 5 kg Lower Grip Strength | Measure | Hazard Ratio | | --- | --- | | All-cause mortality (women) | 1.2 | | All-cause mortality (men) | 1.16 | | Cardiovascular mortality (women) | 1.19 | | Cardiovascular mortality (men) | 1.22 | | Respiratory mortality (women) | 1.31 | | Respiratory mortality (men) | 1.24 | | COPD mortality (women) | 1.24 | | COPD mortality (men) | 1.19 | | All cancer mortality (women) | 1.17 | | All cancer mortality (men) | 1.1 | | Colorectal cancer mortality (women) | 1.17 | | Colorectal cancer mortality (men) | 1.18 | | Lung cancer mortality (women) | 1.17 | | Lung cancer mortality (men) | 1.08 | | Breast cancer mortality (women) | 1.24 | | Prostate cancer mortality (men) | 1.05 | *Hazard ratios for various mortality outcomes per 5 kg lower grip strength in women and men.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Grip-Strength Dynamometer | Measurement tool | [Grip-Strength Dynamometer](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/153.md) | | Hand Grip Dynamometer Pro | Strong evidence | [Hand Grip Dynamometer Pro](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/162.md) | ## Reference 1. **Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength)** BMJ 2018 · [PMID 29739772](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29739772/) · [DOI 10.1136/bmj.k1651](https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k1651) > Higher grip strength was associated with a range of better health outcomes ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.html","name":"Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength)","description":"Lower grip strength is associated with increased risk of mortality and various diseases, and can improve the accuracy of health risk predictions.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength)","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s153.html#study","name":"Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength)","headline":"Evidence: Handgrip strength (muscle strength)","datePublished":"2018","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"BMJ"},"identifier":"PMID:29739772","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29739772/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k1651","abstract":"Lower grip strength is associated with increased risk of mortality and various diseases, and can improve the accuracy of health risk predictions."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Grip-Strength Dynamometer](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/153.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Hand Grip Dynamometer Pro](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/162.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Thresholds of handgrip strength for all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality: a…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d36332759.md) - [Association of Muscle Strength With All-Cause Mortality in the Oldest Old: a 28-country…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d39439054.md) - [Evidence: quantifies handgrip-force biomarker](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s162.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).