A new study suggests that individuals with a slow walking pace, weak grip strength, or muscle loss are at an increased risk of suffering a stroke. These findings could enable doctors to develop a cost-effective risk assessment to identify patients who would benefit most from interventions such as medication or lifestyle changes, according to researchers.
Study Details and Findings
The research, conducted by experts from Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China, analyzed data from 482,699 UK adults aged 37 to 73. Over an average follow-up period of nearly 14 years, participants experienced 11,814 strokes, including 9,449 ischemic strokes (caused by clots) and 2,029 hemorrhagic strokes (caused by bleeding).
Those who reported walking at a slow pace were 64% more likely to suffer a stroke compared to those with a brisk pace. Additionally, individuals with weak grip strength, measured by a handheld grip test, had a 7% higher chance of having a stroke. Meanwhile, participants with muscle loss, or low muscle strength, faced a 30% higher risk of any stroke type, with the risk rising to 41% for hemorrhagic stroke.
Implications for Clinical Practice
Study author Dr. Lu-sha Tong, a neurologist, noted that clinicians often observe that patients with lower physical function tend to have worse overall health outcomes. However, she cautioned that these indicators are not yet routinely incorporated into stroke risk assessments. Dr. Tong stated: 'Walking pace may be a good sign of overall health. Our findings suggest that quick, standard screenings for physical function, such as grip strength and walking pace, may help us identify adults with higher risk of stroke, potentially supporting earlier prevention strategies.'
Expert Commentary
Maeva May, director of research at the Stroke Association, commented: 'This research adds to what we’re beginning to understand about how our physical health connects to stroke risk. The fact that something as simple as walking pace or grip strength might one day help to identify people at risk of stroke is incredibly encouraging. It could facilitate vital earlier and more targeted conversations about prevention with people who might benefit most. Findings like this illustrate the desperate need to invest in stroke research, which is chronically underfunded with less than 1% of the total UK research budget spent on the condition. Yet research like this has real potential to make a life-changing difference to the 100,000 people who have a stroke every year in the UK.'
