Identifying characteristics and clinical conditions associated with hand grip strength in adults: the Project Baseline Health Study

Abstract

Low hand grip strength (HGS) is associated with several conditions, but its value outside of the older adult population is unclear. We sought to identify the most salient factors associated with HGS from an extensive list of candidate variables while stratifying by age and sex. We used data from the initial visit from the Project Baseline Health Study (N = 2502) which captured detailed demographic, occupational, social, lifestyle, and clinical data. We applied MI-LASSO using group methods to determine variables most associated with HGS out of 175 candidate variables. We performed analyses separately for sex and age (< 65 vs. ≥ 65 years). Race was associated with HGS to varying degrees across groups. Osteoporosis and osteopenia were negatively associated with HGS in female study participants. Immune cell counts were negatively associated with HGS for male participants ≥ 65 (neutrophils) and female participants (≥ 65, monocytes; < 65, lymphocytes). Most findings were age and/or sex group-specific; few were common across all groups. Several of the variables associated with HGS in each group were novel, while others corroborate previous research. Our results support HGS as a useful indicator of a variety of clinical characteristics; however, its utility varies by age and sex.

Figure 1

(a) Characteristics associated with hand grip strength after MI-LASSO regression using multiply imputed data: females study participants aged < 65 years (N = 1075). Abbreviations: WHODAS, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate. (b) Characteristics Associated with hand grip strength after MI-LASSO regression using multiply imputed data: females study participants ≥ 65 years (N = 300). Because no study participants in this age/sex group had type 1 diabetes mellitus, this variable was removed from the model for this group. Abbreviations: GAD-7, Generalized Anxiety Disorder; LDL, low density lipoprotein; PANAS, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. (c) Characteristics associated with hand grip strength after MI-LASSO regression using multiply imputed data: male study participants aged < 65 years (N = 845). Abbreviations: ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; WHODAS, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate. (d) Characteristics associated with hand grip strength after MI-LASSO regression using multiply imputed data: male study participants aged ≥ 65 years (N = 282). Because no study participants in this age/sex group had fibromyalgia, this variable was removed from the model for this group. Abbreviations: LDL, low-density lipoprotein.