Association between hand grip strength and spirometric parameters: Korean National health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)

Background: We investigated the associations between hand grip strength (HGS) and spirometric parameters. Methods: A total of 5,303 participants over 40 years of age, who underwent spirometry and HGS testing, were selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2015. Outcome measures were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regressions were used for the analyses. Results: Mean HGS in the obstructive group was: male: 38.9 +/- 6.9 kg; female: 24.2 +/- 4.8 kg, which was significantly less than that in the normal group (male: 42.2 +/- 7.2 kg, P<0.001; female: 26.0 +/- 4.6 kg, P<0.001). In a multiple linear regression model, HGS was significantly associated with FEV1 (male: beta=0.18, P<0.001, female: beta=0.21, P<0.001), FVC (male: beta=0.23, P<0.001, female: beta=0.24, P<0.001) and PEFR (male: beta=0.13, P<0.001, female: beta=0.14, P<0.001) after adjustment. Conclusions: We found associations between muscle strength as evaluated by HGS and spirometric pulmonary function parameters.