Abstract

Low handgrip strength and increased arterial stiffness are both associated with poor health outcomes, but evidence on the relationship between handgrip strength and arterial stiffness is limited. In this cross-sectional analysis of combined baseline datasets from the LipidCardio and Berlin Aging Study II cohorts we aimed to examine whether handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with arterial stiffness. 1511 participants with a median age of 68.56 (IQR 63.13–73.08) years were included. Arterial stiffness was assessed by aortal pulse wave velocity (PWV) with the Mobil-O-Graph device. Handgrip strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer.

The mean HGS was 39.05 ± 9.07 kg in men and 26.20 ± 7.47 kg in women. According to multivariable linear regression analysis per 5 kg decrease in handgrip strength there was a mean increase in PWV of 0.08 m/s after adjustment for the confounders age, sex, coronary artery disease, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, cohort, and smoking. Thus, there was evidence that low handgrip strength and increased arterial stiffness go hand in hand. Arterial stiffness can possibly create the missing link between low handgrip strength and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Causality and direction of causality remain to be determined.

Details

Title
Low muscle strength and increased arterial stiffness go hand in hand
Author
König Maximilian 1 ; Buchmann Nikolaus 2 ; Seeland Ute 3 ; Spira Dominik 1 ; Steinhagen-Thiessen, Elisabeth 1 ; Demuth Ilja 4 

 Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Berlin, Germany (GRID:grid.6363.0) (ISNI:0000 0001 2218 4662) 
 Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Cardiology (Campus Benjamin Franklin), Berlin, Germany (GRID:grid.6363.0) (ISNI:0000 0001 2218 4662) 
 Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Gender in Medicine (GiM), Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany (GRID:grid.6363.0) (ISNI:0000 0001 2218 4662); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (GRID:grid.452396.f) (ISNI:0000 0004 5937 5237) 
 Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Berlin, Germany (GRID:grid.6363.0) (ISNI:0000 0001 2218 4662); BCRT - Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany (GRID:grid.506128.8) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2485938008
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.