A study reveals that middle-aged and older individuals with high weight-adjusted handgrip strength are at low risk of developing hypertension.
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Experts utilized data from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade
Systemic Inflammation and Health or TCLSIH cohort study and involved 8,480 adults
aged 40 years or older. The participants’ handgrip strength were assessed using
a hydraulic handheld dynamometer.
Throughout a median follow-up of 4 years (6 years
maximum), the incidence rate of hypertension was 70 per 1,000 person-years.
When handgrip strength was measured in relation to
weight, individuals in the higher vs lowest reference quartiles had a lower
risk of hypertension.
With the adjusted cox proportional hazards regression models,
the hazards ratios or HRs for incident hypertension correlated with decreasing
quartiles of weight-adjusted handgrip strength were 0.66, and 0.84.
Each-unit increase in weight-adjusted handgrip
strength was correlated with a risk reduction of 83%. Outcomes were similar in
both men and women.
Muscular strength’s role has been increasingly
recognized in the prevention of chronic disease. Current data indicate a
correlation between handgrip strength and incidence of hypertension among the
middle-aged and older population.
Source: Maturitas
2021;doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.06.002