title: Peak expiratory flow mediates the relationship between handgrip strength and timed up and go performance in elderly women, but not men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to verify if there is sex difference in the associations among handgrip strength, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and timed up and go (TUG) test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 288 consecutive elderly men (n=93) and women (n=195). Functional capacity was measured using the TUG test, and muscle strength was measured based on handgrip. Moreover, as a measure of current health status, PEF was evaluated. Linear regression procedures were performed to analyze the relationships between handgrip and both PEF and TUG test results, with adjustment for confounders, and to identify the possible mediating role of PEF in the association between handgrip strength and TUG test results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In men, handgrip strength was associated with both PEF and TUG performance (p<0.01). After adjustment for PEF, the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance remained significant. In women, handgrip strength was also associated with both PEF and TUG performance (p<0.01). However, after adjustment for PEF, the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance was no longer significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mobility in the elderly is sex dependent. In particular, PEF mediates the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance in women, but not in men.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raphael Mendes
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ritti-Dias
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Grizzo
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cucato
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Gazelato
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: de Mello Franco
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maysa Seabra
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cendoroglo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nasri
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Luiza
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Monteiro-Costa
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Antonio Maluf
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Diniz Nagem Janot
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: de Matos
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies