Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Feb;68(2):155-8.
doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.261. Epub 2013 Dec 11.

Effect of inflammation on handgrip strength in the non-critically ill is independent from age, gender and body composition

Affiliations

Effect of inflammation on handgrip strength in the non-critically ill is independent from age, gender and body composition

K Norman et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014 Feb.

Abstract

Background/objectives: We investigated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) as indicator of acute inflammation is associated with maximal isometric handgrip strength in non-critically ill patients.

Subjects/methods: Handgrip strength was measured with Jamar dynamometer in 620 hospitalized patients (56.4±15.9 years old, 52.3% men). CRP was measured with immunoturbidimetric assay. Fat free mass (FFM) was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. A general linear model regression analysis corrected for confounding variables such as age, sex, FFM, body mass index, comorbidity count and diagnosis category (malignant/benign disease) was performed to test the association between elevated levels of CRP and handgrip strength.

Results: CRP was an independent predictor of grip strength (CRP: β-coefficient: -0.169, P=0.018) even after adjustment for relevant confounders. All groups with inflammation showed significant reduction in handgrip strength, corresponding to a loss of ∼1.6 kg in mild inflammation, 3.2 kg in moderate inflammation and 2.9 kg in severe inflammation compared with patients without inflammation.

Discussion: Our data demonstrate the independent association between inflammation and handgrip strength in non-critically ill patients. If not corrected, reduced strength may have implications for the patients' functional status and prognosis. Increasing physical activity and resistance training during convalescence are recommended.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2012 Jan 1;302(1):L103-10 - PubMed
    1. Am J Physiol. 1996 Apr;270(4 Pt 1):E627-33 - PubMed
    1. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1997 Nov;83(5):1581-7 - PubMed
    1. Clin Nutr. 2010 Oct;29(5):586-91 - PubMed
    1. Thorax. 2006 Jan;61(1):10-6 - PubMed

Substances

LinkOut - more resources