Muscular weakness is known to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in otherwise seemingly healthy adults, however previous research had not found a way to assess this reliably. The current study was able to identify consistent grip strength cut points relative to body weight, gender, and age group in a large nationally representative sample of participants pre-screened for comorbid conditions such as hypertension.
"As the type 2 diabetes patient population continues to increase in the US, diagnosing this disease in its early stages is becoming increasingly more important for preventing complications caused by blood vessel damage associated with diabetes. Our study identifies the levels of handgrip strength/weakness that correlate with T2DM in otherwise healthy men and women, according to their body weights and ages. Healthcare providers now have a reliable test to detect it early before such complications set in," explained lead investigator Dr Elise C Brown, department of public and environmental wellness, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan.
T2DM is linked to increased cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Undiagnosed prediabetes and T2DM in the US in 2017 were estimated to cost $43.4bn and $31.7bn, respectively. This economic burden highlights the need for better early detection efforts. T2DM is asymptomatic in its initial stages, and a prompt diagnosis can prevent or delay vascular complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy.
Researchers analysed survey data from the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to establish normalised grip strength (grip strength relative to body weight) cut points for T2DM risk. Inexpensive portable handgrip dynamometer devices were used to determine hand and forearm strength. After controlling for socio-demographics (race/ethnicity, education, poverty, sex, and age), lifestyle factors (sedentary behaviour, alcohol use, and smoking status), and waist circumference, the investigators identified the grip strength levels of at-risk patients who were otherwise healthy. These levels are presented with age- and sex-specific grip strength cut points that correspond to varying body weights to increase the ease of use for practitioners as indicators of when further diabetes diagnostic testing is warranted.
For example, the cut point for women aged 50-80 years is 0.49. This means that if a 60-year old woman's combined grip strength from left and right hands was 43 kg, and her body weight was 90 kg, her normalised grip strength would be 0.478. Since this value is less than 0.49, this indicates that she is at increased risk for diabetes and further screening is warranted.
"Given the low cost, minimal training requirement and quickness of the assessment, the use of the normalised grip strength cut points in this paper could be used in routine health screenings to identify at-risk patients and improve diagnosis and outcomes," added Brown. "This type of impactful research can make a difference for practitioners and individuals and is a key focal point of what Oakland University is all about. We are trying to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals."
Abstract
Introduction: Early detection screening tools are needed to aid in preventing vascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes. As low muscular strength is linked to increased diabetes risk, the purpose of this study is to establish muscular strength cut points for determining diabetes risk using a large, nationally representative U.S. sample.
Methods: Using the 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 5,108 participants aged 20–80 years (68.6% aged 20–50 years; young male participants, n=1,813, mean age=33.43 years; young female participants, n=1,692, mean age=33.39 years; older male participants, n=813, mean age=59.92 years; older female participants, n=790, mean age=60.45 years) and free of common diabetes comorbidities were included. Muscular strength was assessed using a handgrip dynamometer and normalized by adjusting for body weight. A logistic regression for survey data controlling for covariates was used to determine normalized grip strength cut points. Diabetes risk was determined using American Diabetes Association diagnostic criteria. Analyses were conducted in the summer of 2019.
Results: Normalized grip strength significantly predicted diabetes ( p=0.0332), and the cut points for detecting diabetes risk included 0.78 (young male participants), 0.57 (young female participants), 0.68 (older male participants), and 0.49 (older female participants). The risk percentages for diabetes and estimated rates reported for all subgroups were comparable, and the risk percentages included 6.84 (95% CI=5.32, 8.36; younger male participants), 7.49 (95% CI=5.87, 9.10; younger female participants), 5.76 (95% CI=2.34, 9.19, older male participants), and 4.27 (95% CI=2.44, 6.10; older female participants).
Conclusions: Normalized grip strength using the cut points proposed in this paper may be a useful screening tool for diabetes risk in apparently healthy, normotensive adults.
Authors
Elise C Brown, Duncan S Buchan, Samar A Madi, Breanne N Gordon, Dorin Drignei
[link url="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200406092835.htm"]Elsevier material[/link]
[link url="https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(20)30079-9/pdf"]American Journal of Preventive Medicine abstract[/link]