Absolute and adjusted hand grip strength values in obese patients

Hand grip strength-measured by dynamometry-is an essential tool in nutritional assessment, particularly for detecting sarcopenia, even before weight or muscle mass loss is evident. In individuals with obesity, hand grip strength can help identify muscle weakness that may not be apparent due to high body mass. The purpose of this study is to describe the absolute and adjusted hand grip strength values for weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) in obese patients. It also aims to determine the prevalence of low muscle strength in this group of patients and to compare these results with those obtained in a healthy population.

Prospective observational study including patients with obesity and healthy volunteers. Absolute and adjusted hand grip strength values for weight, height, BMI and appendicular muscle mass were determined in patients with obesity and compared with the results of healthy volunteers. Muscle strength was measured by hand grip strength according to Sánchez-Torralvo, Dodds, and < -2SD cut-off points of healthy reference population.

The results obtained show that the absolute hand grip strength values are higher in healthy volunteers (30.7 ± 10.5 kg) vs patients with obesity (26.6 ± 9.7 kg); p < 0.008. As for hand grip strength values adjusted for height, weight, BMI and ASMM, they are also statistically significantly higher in healthy volunteers (18.0 ± 5.5 vs. 15.9 ± 5.4, p < 0.014; 05 ± 0.10 vs. 0.2 ± 0.06, p < 0.001; 1.4 ± 0.4 vs. 0.6 ± 0.2, p < 0.001; 1.5 ± 0.2 vs. 0.9 ± 0.3, p < 0.001). According to sex, men had significantly higher absolute and adjusted hand grip strength values in both obese patients and healthy volunteers. The prevalence of low muscle strength in patients with obesity goes from 14.5% up and 23.4% depending on the cut-off points used, being higher with those of Sánchez-Torralvo´s cut-off points. Based on sex distribution, obese men had a higher prevalence of low muscle strength with absolute hand grip strength values vs women, being these differences statistically significant only with the Sánchez-Torralvo´s cut-off points. In terms of the prevalence of low muscle strength with adjusted hand grip strength values, more variable percentages (3.2%-96.8%) were observed without clear differences across sexes.

Hand grip strength values in obese patients vary according to absolute or adjusted measurements. Obese patients have lower absolute and adjusted hand grip strength values vs the healthy population. However, more studies are needed to establish specific cut-off points for hand grip strength in patients with obesity.