Relationship between handgrip strength and lung function in adults: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Gerontology

Background:

• Handgrip strength (HGS) is a functional measure increasingly recognized for its association with overall health.
• Previous research indicates a link between HGS and lung function in healthy individuals, but findings are inconsistent in chronic disease populations.
• Clarifying the relationship between HGS and lung function across diverse populations is crucial for clinical applications.

Approach:

• A systematic literature search was performed across six databases up to February 29, 2020.
• Twenty-five studies, examining both healthy and unhealthy adults, were included.
• Methodological quality was assessed using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT).

Key Points:

• Significant positive correlations between HGS and lung function were consistently reported in healthy populations.
• The relationship between HGS and lung function in unhealthy populations showed variable results.
• Methodological quality of included studies ranged from Good to Excellent, despite heterogeneous assessment protocols.

Conclusions:

• Handgrip strength is significantly associated with lung function in the majority of healthy adults.
• The utility of HGS as a surrogate marker for lung function in individuals with chronic diseases requires further investigation.
• Future robust studies are needed to confirm the suitability of HGS for assessing lung function in both healthy and unhealthy adults.