The Relationship Between Handgrip Strength And Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Older Women

Cardiovascular disease is the leading causes of death in the world. Several clinical trails have found that handgrip strength is associated with lower cardiovascular risk and related death. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and handgrip strength. METHODS: Subjects for this study included 8 women from the Congregation of Devine Providence (78.13 + 7.79 yrs) at Our Lady of the Lake University. Preliminary measures included a medical history questionnaire and the CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire. On the first day of testing, subjects arrived fasted between 7-9 am. After a 5-minute rest, blood pressure and heart rate were measured using an automated blood pressure cuff. Then, blood glucose was measured via finger stick and an Accucheck glucometer. Lipids were assessed using the same finger stick site that was used for glucose assessment; a blood sample was analyzed by a Cardiochek. Subjects’ height and weight were measured using a mounted stadiometer and digital scale respectively. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Subjects returned for testing 2-hours post-absorptive for the Functional Fitness Assessment for the Elderly and handgrip testing. The assessment included the two-minute step test, arm curl test, the chair stand test, eight-foot up-and-go test, back scratch test, and chair sit-and-reach. Handgrip was assessed using a hand dynamometer. Data is presented as means±SD. Cohen’s d tests were used to determine effect sizes. RESULTS: Handgrip strength (21.38 + 4.78 kg) was moderately associated with systolic blood pressure (130.75 + 21.61 mmHg, R = -0.52, d = 6.99). Additionally, handgrip strength was shown to have a small association with body mass index (27.86 + 5.78 kg/m2, R = 0.22, d = 1.22). Handgrip strength and blood glucose were moderately correlated (101 + 21.42 mg/dL, R = 0.58, d = 5.17). No associations were found between handgrip and body fat, lipids, and any other fitness tests. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, it is suggested that higher handgrip strength values may be associated with lower systolic blood pressure and glucose. Handgrip assessment could be used as a tool to determine future cardiometabolic risk in elderly women.