Asian studies on how physical tests predict short-term mortality in elderly are scarce. We assessed handgrip strength and timed-up-and-go (TUG) as such predictors among elderly Chinese in Singapore.

Prospective cohort study.

Community-dwelling Chinese elderly in Singapore.

We used data from 13,789 subjects in the prospective, population-based Singapore Chinese Health Study, who had a mean age of 74 (range 63 to 97) years at time of measurements.

Subjects underwent assessment for handgrip strength and TUG. They were followed for mortality via linkage with nationwide death registry through 2018.

In multivariable analyses, handgrip strength was inversely associated with risk of mortality in a dose-dependent manner: the hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] comparing extreme quartiles was 2.05 (1.44–2.90) (Ptrend<0.001). TUG was positively associated with mortality in a stepwise manner: the HR (95% CI) comparing extreme quartiles was 3.08 (2.17–4.38) (Ptrend<0.001). Compared to those with stronger handgrip and faster TUG, participants who either had weaker handgrip or slower TUG had a significant 1.59 to 2.11 fold increase in risk of mortality; while the HR (95% CI) for those who had both weaker handgrip and slower TUG was 3.93 (3.06–5.05). In time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, adding handgrip strength and TUG time to a Cox model containing sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and body measurements significantly improved the area under the curve for the prediction of mortality from 0.5 to 2 years (P≤0.001).

Among elderly in a Chinese population, handgrip strength and TUG test were strong and independent predictors of short-term mortality.