Lancet 140,000 People: Grip Strength May Predict Longevity Better Than Blood Pressure

This article is for health education purposes only and is provided for informational reference. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified physician for any health concerns.

In hospitals, blood pressure and blood glucose are routinely measured, yet few ever ask you to "squeeze." However, the PURE study, published in The Lancet, covering 17 countries, 140,000 participants, and a 4-year follow-up, delivers a counterintuitive conclusion: grip strength may be a better predictor of mortality risk than systolic blood pressure.

For every 5 kg decrease in grip strength: all-cause mortality ↑ 16%, cardiovascular mortality ↑ 17%, myocardial infarction ↑ 7%, and stroke ↑ 9% (Leong et al., Lancet 2015; PMID: 25982151).

This association holds consistently across high- and low-income countries, urban and rural settings, and both sexes and all age groups.

Grip strength is not merely about "hand strength." It reflects total skeletal muscle mass, nutritional status, and neuromuscular function—sarcopenia, chronic inflammation, and prolonged sedentary behavior all leave their mark on grip strength first.

What you can do today: Measure your grip strength with a dynamometer to establish a baseline, then recheck annually. Reference values for Chinese adults aged 40: approximately 40 kg for men and 25 kg for women represent the median level. If your values are significantly below average or show a rapid decline, consultation with a geriatrics or endocrinology department is recommended.

Save this and share it with that family member who always says, "I'm just lacking strength."

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available peer-reviewed research and is intended solely for health education. It does not replace an in-person medical consultation.

Conflict of Interest Statement: This article does not promote any prescription drugs or medical devices. The author has no conflicts of interest with the cited research.

Reference: Leong DP, Teo KK, Rangarajan S, et al. Prognostic value of grip strength: findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Lancet. 2015;386(9990):266-273. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62000-6. PMID: 25982151.