Poor or declining hand grip strength in old people is associated with poor survival and may be used as a tool to assess mortality, says a new study.

Low hand grip strength has been consistently linked to premature mortality, disability and other health complications in middle-aged and older people.

Hand grip strength, a simple bedside tool, can be an alternate way of measuring overall muscular strength.

The study included 555 individuals from the Leiden 85-plus survey of all 85-years-old in Leiden, The Netherlands. Their handgrip strength was measured at 85 years and then again at 89.

The fastest growing segment of the elderly population is the group older than 85 years.

The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) study, led by researchers from The Netherlands, found that low handgrip strength, both at 85 and 89 years, and a greater decline in strength over time are associated with increased mortality from all causes.

The researchers also found that hand grip strength has a greater impact on mortality as people age.

'The oldest old population has been underrepresented in previous studies,' writes Carolina Ling, Leiden University Medical Centre, gerontologist and study co-authors.

'The objective of this study was to assess the association between muscular strength and mortality in the oldest old,' she said, according to an association release.

The underlying reasons why muscle strength and mortality are linked are not well known. The authors were unable to determine if muscle strength had a direct effect on mortality or if it was associated with other factors ultimately leading to death.

These findings were published in CMAJ.