Maarten van Egmond

74 Chapter 4 Results from linear regression analysis showed that the regression coefficients [95% CI] of right HGS (0.92 [0.29 to 1.54]) , left HGS (1.02 [0.36 to 1.67]) , MIP (0.26 [0.11 to 0.42]), MEP (0.15 [0.04 to 0.27]) and 30CST (1.53 [0.58 to 2.48]) were each significantly associated with skeletal muscle mass area at L3, adjusted for age, height, weight and gender. Multiple backward regression analysis showed that gender, weight, age, left HGS and MIP were all independently associated with muscle surface area at L3 (Table 4). All these variables together explained 66% of the variability (R 2 ) in muscle surface area at L3 ( P < .01). Table 4. Results after multiple backward linear regression analysis of functional muscle strength on muscle surface area (N = 93) Exploratory variable Regression coefficient (95% CI) P -value a Gender 17.93 (2.05 to 33.82) .03 Weight 0.71 (0.39 to 1.02) < .01 Age -0.48 (-0.91 to -0.04) .02 Left HGS 0.79 (0.14 to 1.44) <.01 MIP 0.23 (0.08 to 0.38) < .01 Abbreviations: HGS, handgrip strength; MIP, maximal inspiratory pressure. a P < .05 is considered significant.