Table 2.
Baseline mean (SE) grip strength (kg) and its percentage change over follow-up by different level of telomere length in men
| Quartiles of telomere length (kb)a, estimated mean (SE) | p differencec | p linearc | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | |||
| Grip strength (baseline)b | 34.06 (0.42) |
34.18 (0.42) |
34.64 (0.45) |
33.29§
(0.44) |
0.169 | 0.339 |
| Grip strength (fifth year FU)b | 31.45 (0.44) |
31.41 (0.50) |
32.27 (0.51) |
31.71 (0.46) |
0.569 | 0.442 |
| Grip strength % change (fifth year FU) | 9.49 (1.30) |
10.10 (1.34) |
7.01 (1.32) |
5.65†‡
(1.28) |
0.053 | 0.012 |
| Grip strength % change (fifth year FU), age-adjustedd | 9.66 (1.30) |
10.07 (1.34) |
6.87 (1.32) |
5.65†‡
(1.28) |
0.044 | 0.009 |
| Grip strength% change (fifth year FU), multivariate-adjustede | 9.72 (1.31) |
10.02 (1.34) |
6.82 (1.33) |
5.69†‡
(1.29) |
0.047 | 0.009 |
| Grip strength % change (fifth year FU), multivariate-adjustedf | 9.75 (1.31) |
10.01 (1.34) |
6.79 (1.33) |
5.69†‡
(1.29) |
0.046 | 0.008 |
Percentage change = (baseline − fifth year)/baseline × 100 %
BMI body mass index, FU follow-up, PASE Physical Activity Scale of the Elderly
† p < 0.05 (comparing II, III, and IV with I); ‡ p < 0.05 (comparing III and IV with II); § p < 0.05 (comparing IV with III)
aValues for telomere length quartiles: I, <7.63; II, 7.63–8.62; III, 8.63–9.81; and IV, ≥9.82 kb
bData are based on valid case (n) observed at baseline (n = 976) and fifth year FU (n = 735)
c p value of analysis of variance (ANOVA)/analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
dAdjusted for age
eAdjusted for age, education, BMI, smoking, and PASE
fAdjusted for age, education, BMI, smoking, PASE, and probable dementia