Distribution and trajectory of handgrip strength in Chinese non-institutionalized middle-aged and older adults: A longitudinal descriptive analysis

Using a national sample, we explored the distribution of and longitudinal trajectory of handgrip strength (HGS) in Chinese non-institutionalized middle-aged and older adults. We included a total of 12292 participants in the cross-sectional distribution analysis and a total of 7193 in the longitudinal trajectory analysis. The mean HGS was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in males (38.88 kg) than in females (26.52 kg). The HGS centiles and mean HGS in both males and females decreased as age increased. HGS declined with time in a nonlinear manner. HGS declined faster in males than in females.