Table 2 Parameter estimates of the association of grip strength with sociodemographic and health variables among older South Africans by gender

Age

  50–59

Reference

  60–69

-4.57 (-8.20 to -0.98)*

-2.55 (-6.10 to 1.01)

-1.14 (-3.86 to 1.58)

1.37 (-1.03 to 3.78)

  70–79

-5.41 (-9.91 to -0.90)*

-3.53 (-9.38 to 2.32)

-4.26 (-7.95 to -0.56)*

-1.23 (-5.24 to 2.79)

  80+

-9.32 (-17.49 to -1.15)*

-2.25 (-10.22-5.72)

-7.74 (-10.97 to -4.51)***

-2.37 (-6.60 to 1.85)

Population group

  African Black

Reference

---

---

  White

7.62 (-1.76 to 17.00)

8.21 (-1.70 to 18.12)

  Coloured

-4.39 (-14.16 to 5.37)

-2.42 (-9.23 to 4.39)

  Indian or Asian

-5.90 (-15.15 to 3.35)

0.02 (-4.05 to 4.08)

Educational level

  No schooling

Reference

---

  Less than primary

2.34 (-2.07 to 6.75)

0.26 (-1.86 to 2.38)

1.17 (-1.44 to 3.78)

  Primary

-3.24 (-7.06 to 0.56)

1.25 (-1.56 to 4.06)

0.30 (-2.31 to 2.92)

  Secondary

3.98 (-0.21 to 8.16)

5.51 (1.63 to 9.38)**

2.07 (-1.56 to 5.70)

Wealth

  Low

Reference

---

---

  Medium

2.08 (-3.33 to 7.49)

1.70 (-0.89 to 4.29)

  High

0.83 (-3.74 to 5.41)

3.85 (-0.11 to 7.80)

Geolocality

  Rural

Reference

---

---

  Urban

0.57 (-4.34 to 5.49)

0.83 (-4.02 to 5.67)

Health variables

Height (cms)

0.19 (0.08 to 0.30)***

0.15 (0.02 to 0.28)*

0.20 (0.08 to 0.33)**

0.13 (0.02 to 0.25)*

Underweight

-9.41 (-17.86 to -0.95)*

-8.41 (-14.87 to -1.94)*

1.17 (-5.30 to 7.64)

---

Obese

-0.50 (-5.53 to 4.52)

---

-0.37 (-2.72 to 1.99)

---

Cognitive functioning

7.61 (3.99 to 11.22)***

2.84 (-0.30 to 5.97)

8.96 (5.34 to 12.58)***

6.40 (3.07 to 9.74)***

Self-rated health

  Very good/good

Reference

  Moderate

-3.71 (-8.03 to 0.62)

1.88 (-3.31 to 7.06)

-4.67 (-7.59 to -1.75)**

0.17 (-2.70 to 3.04)

  Bad/very bad

-8.86 (-14.44 to -3.29)**

0.82 (-3.94 to 5.57)

-6.75 (-11.41 to -2.08)**

1.52 (-3.06 to 6.10)

Functional disability

  Low

Reference

  Medium

-5.95 (-9.04 to -2.85)***

-5.95 (-8.54 to -3.36)***

-6.93 (-10.62 to -3.24)***

-6.33 (-10.03 to -2.63)***

  High

-11.69 (-15.58 to -7.80)***

-8.92 (-14.7 to -3.22)**

-10.64 (-14.90 to -6.39)***

-8.41 (-12.92 to -3.90)***

Chronic conditions (≥2 or more)

-8.87 (-14.14 to -3.60)***

-5.03 (-11.1 to 1.06)

-4.21 (-6.87 to -1.56)**

-2.91 (-6.23 to 0.39)

Depression

-4.32 (-13.36 to 4.71)

---

-2.21 (-9.31 to 4.90)

---

Daily tobacco use

2.04 (-1.34 to 5.42)

---

-0.22 (-3.69 to 3.26)

---

Alcohol use (10 drinks or more a week)

3.95 (-2.44 to 10.34)

---

-8.48 (-16.24 to -0.72)*

-7.99 (-17.77 to 1.78)

Physical inactivity

-1.65 (-5.27 to 1.98)

---

-1.53 (-5.50 to 2.44)

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