To examine long-term changes in handgrip strength and the factors predicting handgrip strength decline.
Longitudinal cohort study with 22 years of follow-up.
Population-based Mini-Finland Health Examination Survey in Finland.
Nine hundred sixty-three men and women aged 30 to 73 at baseline.
Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer at baseline and follow-up. Information on potential risk factors, namely lifestyle and chronic conditions, and their changes throughout the follow-up were based on health interviews.
Based on linear mixed-effect models, midlife physically strenuous work, excess body weight, smoking, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and asthma predicted muscle strength decline over 22 years of follow-up (P