title: Hand grip strength is associated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second among subjects with COPD: report from a population-based cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases and skeletal muscle dysfunction are common comorbidities in COPD. Hand grip strength (HGS) is related to general muscle strength and is associated with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, while the results from small selected COPD populations are contradictory. The aim of this population-based study was to compare HGS among the subjects with and without COPD, to evaluate HGS in relation to COPD severity, and to evaluate the impact of heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from the Obstructive Lung disease in Northern Sweden COPD study, where the subjects with and without COPD have been invited to annual examinations since 2005. In 2009-2010, 441 subjects with COPD (postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]/vital capacity <0.70) and 570 without COPD participated in structured interviews, spirometry, and measurements of HGS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean HGS was similar when comparing subjects with and without COPD, but those with heart disease had lower HGS than those without. When compared by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades, the subjects with GOLD 3-4 had lower HGS than those without COPD in both sexes (females 21.4 kg vs 26.9 kg,P=0.010; males 41.5 kg vs 46.3 kg,P=0.038), and the difference persisted also when adjusted for confounders. Among the subjects with COPD, HGS was associated with FEV1% of predicted value but not heart disease when adjusted for height, age, sex, and smoking habits, and the pattern was similar among males and females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population-based study, the subjects with GOLD 3-4 had lower HGS than the subjects without COPD. Among those with COPD, HGS was associated with FEV1% of predicted value but not heart disease, and the pattern was similar in both sexes.
authors: Division of Health and Rehabilitation, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, The Obstructive Lung disease in Northern Sweden Unit, Umeå University, Umeå.
authors: Viktor Johansson
authors: VJ
authors: Strandkvist
authors: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, The Obstructive Lung disease in Northern Sweden Unit, Umeå University, Umeå.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Backman
authors: Division of Health and Rehabilitation, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Röding
authors: Division of Nursing, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Stridsman
authors: Division of Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Lindberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D018737:Hand Strength; D006304:Health Status; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014797:Vital Capacity
keywords: COPD; epidemiology; heart diseases; muscle strength; muscle strength dynamometer; pulmonary disease