Muscular strength, mobility in daily life and mental wellbeing among older adult Inuit in Greenland. The Greenland population health survey 2018

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Peter Bjerregaard, Charlotte Brandstrup Ottendahl, Tenna Jensen, Kamilla Nørtoft, Marit Eika Jørgensen, Christina Viskum Lytken Larsen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023
• Subjects: Inuit; Greenland; mobility in daily life; muscular strength; muscle pain; mental wellbeing; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Circumpolar Health; GRIP; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; inuit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2184751; https://doaj.org/article/9da5efacd6c04c239a6149e62dd8f467

ABSTRACTThe purpose was to analyse the association of muscular strength, muscle pain and reduced mobility in daily life with mental wellbeing among older Inuit men and women in Greenland. Data (N = 846) was collected as part of a countrywide cross-sectional health survey in 2018. Hand grip strength and 30-seconds chair stand test were measured according to established protocols. Mobility in daily life was assessed by five questions about the ability to perform specific activities of daily living. Mental wellbeing was assessed by questions about self-rated health, life satisfaction and Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire. In binary multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for age and social position, muscular strength (OR 0.87–0.94) and muscle pain (OR 1.53–1.79) were associated with reduced mobility. In fully adjusted models, muscle pain (OR 0.68–0.83) and reduced mobility (OR 0.51–0.55) but were associated with mental wellbeing. Chair stand score was associated with life satisfaction (OR 1.05). With an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, increasing prevalence of obesity and increasing life expectancy the health consequences of musculoskeletal dysfunction are expected to grow. Prevention and clinical handling of poor mental health among older adults need to consider reduced muscle strength, muscle pain and reduced mobility as important determinants.