Genetic Liability to Higher Muscle Strength Associates with a Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Men Irrespective of Physical Activity in Adulthood: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Abstract Background: Low muscle strength predicts premature mortality. We determined whether genetic liability to muscle strength is associated with mortality and whether this association is influenced by long-term leisure-time physical activity (PA). Methods and Results: We estimated the effects of a polygenic score for hand grip strength (PGS HGS) on all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in the older Finnish Twin Cohort (N=8815, 53% women). National registries provided dates and causes of death. PA volume was assessed longitudinally in 1975, 1981, and 1990 using validated…