Table 3

Change in loneliness score estimated from the UCLA loneliness scale for each 5-kilogramme change in grip strength, a complete-case age-stratified analysis

Change in loneliness score
MenWomen
<80 years≥80 years<80 years≥80 years
n=2651n=118n=3190n=159
β (95% CI)P valueβ (95% CI)P valueβ (95% CI)P valueβ (95% CI)P value
Decrease in grip strength
Unadjusted0.05 (0.02 to 0.08)<0.0010.17 (–0.03 to 0.36)0.0940.08 (0.03 to 0.12)<0.0010.13 (–0.06 to 0.32)0.167
Adjusted*0.04 (0.0001 to 0.08)0.0490.04 (–0.28 to 0.35)0.8240.03 (–0.02 to 0.09)0.223–0.02 (–0.32 to 0.28)0.894
Increase in grip strength
Unadjusted0.02 (–0.03 to 0.08)0.4460.20 (–0.29 to 0.68)0.4240.01 (–0.06 to 0.09)0.7060.09 (–0.49 to 0.68)0.756
Adjusted*0.02 (–0.05 to 0.08)0.5980.27 (–0.33 to 0.87)0.369–0.02 (–0.10 to 0.07)0.677–0.11 (–0.61 to 0.39)0.658
  • *Adjusted for age, living alone, employment status, NS-SEC occupation category, diagnoses of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

  • NS-SEC, National Statistics Socioeconomic Classification; UCLA, University of California Los Angeles.