Abstract
To investigate the association between relative grip strength and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) independently and in combination with body mass index (BMI) in Korean adults. The cross-sectional study includes 2,811 men and women (age 40 to 92 years old) with no history of heart disease, stroke, or cancer. Relative grip strength was measured by a handheld dynamometer and calculated by dividing absolute grip strength by body weight. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of T2DM by sex-specific quintiles of relative grip strength. In a joint analysis, participants were classified into 4 groups: "weak (lowest 20% quintile one) and normal weight (BMI <25.0 kg/m2)", "weak and overweight/obese (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2)", "strong (upper 80% four quintiles) and normal weight" or "strong and overweight/obese". Among the 2,811 participants, 371 were identified as having T2DM. Compared with the lowest quintile of relative grip strength (weakest), the ORs (95% CIs) of T2DM were 0.73 (0.53-1.02), 0.68 (0.48-0.97), 0.72 (0.50-1.03), and 0.48 (0.32-0.74) in upper quintiles two, three, four, and five, respectively, after adjusting for BMI and other potential confounders. In the joint analysis, compared with the "weak and overweight/obese" reference group, the odds of T2DM [ORs (95% CIs)] was lower in the "strong and overweight/obese" group [0.65 (0.46-0.92)] and the "strong and normal weight" group [0.49 (0.35-0.67)], after adjusting for potential confounders. In this cross-sectional study, greater relative grip strength was associated with a lower prevalence of T2DM independent of BMI in Korean adults. Additional prospective studies are needed to determine whether a causal association exists between relative grip strength and T2DM prevalence considering BMI.
Highlights
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health concern, which is associated with a greater risk of mortality [1]
T2DM [odds ratios (ORs)] was lower in the “strong and overweight/obese” group [0.65 (0.46– 0.92)] and the “strong and normal weight” group [0.49 (0.35–0.67)], after adjusting for potential confounders. In this cross-sectional study, greater relative grip strength was associated with a lower prevalence of T2DM independent of body mass index (BMI) in Korean adults
Additional prospective studies are needed to determine whether a causal association exists between relative grip strength and T2DM prevalence considering BMI
Summary
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health concern, which is associated with a greater risk of mortality [1]. Skeletal muscle is a major organ for glucose uptake [3], and lower muscle mass is associated with a greater risk of developing T2DM [4]. Previous studies have shown that individuals with low grip strength are at a greater risk of developing T2DM [7,8,9]. Grip strength is related to body size, with larger individuals being stronger in general [10, 11]. Studies have shown that relative grip strength, which is grip strength divided by body weight or BMI, may be more strongly associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting glucose) than absolute grip strength [12,13,14]. Relative grip strength may have a stronger association with T2DM than absolute grip strength
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