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A low hand grip strength is a warning sign of various health conditions such as Type2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, Chronic Kidney Disease
India
healthysoch
Chandigarh, January 24, 2024:
A recently published review study done by Fortis C-Doc, New Delhi has proposed Hand Grip Strength (HGS) as an important biomarker of health. The study which has been co-authored by Dr Anoop Misra, Padma Shri, Executive Chairman & Director, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Fortis C-Doc hospital (with Dr Raju Vaishya as the first author) has been recently published on 9th January 2024 in Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (Spinger).
This study reveals that:
- There is adequate evidence to show that HGS stands as an important biomarker of health. HGS serves as a fundamental metric in assessing muscle function and overall physical capability, multiple diseases, and lifespan and is particularly relevant to the ageing population.
- The HGS can be measured reliably with a handheld dynamometer. The cut off values are different in various populations. It is lower in Asians, women, less educated and privileged and those involved in sedentary work.
- The utility of HGS would extend to the identification of diverse health issues in elderly population and its potential to complement other vital sign measurements throughout the lifespan. This highlights its promise for early intervention strategies aimed at disease prevention and health promotion.
- Apart from pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature and blood glucose measurement (also suggested by our group previously), handgrip strength should be added as a new vital sign. This is a novel paradigm for health assessment.
According to Dr Anoop Misra, Padma Shri, co-author of the study and Executive Chairman & Director, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Fortis C-Doc Hospital “Hand grip strength (HGS) plays a pivotal role in reflecting overall health parameters and its significant association with morbidity, mortality and quality of life. A low hand grip strength is a potential risk factor for health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, Chronic Kidney Disease & Liver Disease, some cancers, Sarcopenia (age-related, loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength) and fragility fractures. Furthermore, a low HGS is significantly correlated with increased hospitalization, compromised nutritional status, higher overall mortality and diminished quality of life. This finding underscores the importance of hand grip strength as
an indicator that extends beyond physical capability. Its correlation with various health parameters prompts healthcare practitioners to consider HGS as a crucial element in assessing patient’s overall health.
“The identification of a low HGS could serve as an early warning sign for potential health issues, allowing for proactive interventions and improved health outcomes. Furthermore, it underscores the multifaceted role of hand grip strength as an important health biomarker. Its association with diverse health conditions emphasizes the need for its integration into routine heath assessments, potentially offering a new dimension in preventive care and healthcare monitoring. We believe that available data, and detailed review of various parameters carried out by us, are robust enough to show good association of HGS to various health parameters and mortality. Such detailed review on this topic brings novel and fresh perspective, underscoring need to propose HGS as a new vital sign,” Dr Misra added.
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