Commentary on: Ortega FB, Silventoinen K, Tynelius P, et al. Muscular strength in male adolescents and premature death: cohort study of one million participants. BMJ 2012;345:e7279OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text

Context

The importance of muscle strength as a risk factor for mortality has recently been given greater attention by researchers. Accordingly, there is evidence to suggest that low levels of muscle strength may be associated with an increased risk of mortality in middle-aged and elderly individuals.1 However, no prospective large-scale study appears to be available regarding the relationship between muscle strength and the risk of early mortality in adolescents, since leading causes of death in the elderly (cardiovascular disease) and young adults (suicide) are different. Therefore, in this study, Ortega and colleagues examined the association between different levels of muscle strength and the risk of premature death owing to cardiovascular disease, cancer and suicide in male adolescents.