Vascular status and physical functioning: the association between vascular status and physical functioning in middle-aged and elderly men: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Living independently is an important component of quality of life. Cardiovascular diseases are prominent among the chronic conditions that predispose elderly people to functional limitations and disability, which impair quality of life. Insight into factors that play a role in the development process of limitations and disability of patients with subclinical cardiovascular diseases will aid in the development of preventive interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of vascular status with muscle strength and physical functioning in middle aged and elderly men.

Design: The study is a population-based cross-sectional study in 400 men aged 40-80 years, independently living at the time of enrolment, performed in the University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands.

Methods: Vascular status was measured noninvasively with ankle arm index, pulse wave velocity and intima-media thickness. Muscle strength was measured by isometric grip strength and physical performance was measured by Guralniks Physical Performance Score.

Results: After adjustment for confounders, no associations were found between vascular status and physical functioning. Stratifying did not reveal subgroups, such as older age, in which an association was present.

Conclusion: Contrary to former study results, this study showed no age-independent association between the extent of vascular damage and physical performance and muscle strength.