Table 2. Relationships between SF-36 physical functioning (PF) scores and objective physical performance measures.
| MEN | WOMEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) | High PF | Low PFa | High PF | Low PFa |
| Grip strength (kg) | 45.2 (7.5) | 41.0 (7.4) | 26.8 (5.2) | 23.0 (6.7) |
| unadjusted difference (95%CI)b | -4.2 (-6.1, -2.2), p<0.001 | -3.8 (-5.4, -2.2), p<0.001 | ||
| adjustedc difference (95%CI) | -2.0 (-4.0, 0.1), p=0.06 | -2.4 (-4.2, -0.7), p=0.007 | ||
| TUG (secs) | 10.2 (1.5) | 11.9 (2.6) | 10.7 (1.7) | 13.5 (3.3) |
| unadjusted difference (95%CI)b | 1.7 (1.2, 2.2), p<0.001 | 2.8 (2.2, 3.5), p<0.001 | ||
| adjustedc difference (95%CI) | 0.9 (0.4, 1.5), p<0.001 | 1.6 (1.0, 2.3), p<0.001 | ||
| 3m walk (secs) | 3.2 (0.4) | 3.6 (0.6) | 3.3 (0.5) | 4.1 (0.9) |
| unadjusted difference (95%CI)b | 0.4 (0.3, 0.5), p<0.001 | 0.8 (0.6, 1.0), p<0.001 | ||
| adjustedc difference (95%CI) | 0.2 (0.1, 0.3), p=0.003 | 0.5 (0.3, 0.7), p<0.001 | ||
| Chair rises (secs)d | 14.8 (1.2) | 17.0 (1.3) | 15.8 (1.2) | 20.6 (1.4) |
| unadjusted difference (95%CI)b | 1.2 (1.1, 1.2), p<0.001 | 1.3 (1.2, 1.4), p<0.001 | ||
| adjustedc difference (95%CI) | 1.1 (1.0, 1.1), p=0.03 | 1.2 (1.1, 1.3), p<0.001 | ||
| Quadriceps peak torque (Nm) | 95.4 (19.3) | 92.5 (18.2) | 70.5 (15.4) | 52.5 (16.5) |
| unadjusted difference (95%CI)b | -3.0 (-13.7, 7.8), p=0.59 | -18.0 (-25.2, -10.8), p<0.001 | ||
| adjustedc difference (95%CI) | 1.3 (-9.6, 12.3), p=0.81 | -16.7 (-23.7, -9.7), p<0.001 | ||
| Proportion | ||||
| Maximal balance time (30secs) | 49.3% | 34.4% | 29.8% | 14.8% |
| unadjusted odds ratio (95%CI)b | 0.5 (0.3, 0.9), p=0.03 | 0.4 (0.2, 0.9), p=0.03 | ||
| adjustedc odds ratio (95%CI) | 1.1 (0.6, 2.2), p=0.72 | 0.7 (0.3, 1.7), p=0.44 | ||
CI = confidence interval; PF = physical functioning
a
Low physical functioning scores defined as scores in the lowest fifth of the gender-specific distribution i.e. ≤ 60 for men, and ≤ 75 for women
b
Differences/odds ratios are presented for low PF subjects in comparison with high PF subjects
c
Adjustment factors were age, height, weight for height, walking speed, social class, smoking habit and alcohol consumption.
d
Geometric mean (SD) and proportional differences in low compared with high PF subjects