Reduced handgrip strength in relation to peripheral neuropathy and painful peripheral neuropathy in the Qatar...

This study aimed to assess the association between handgrip strength (HGS) with peripheral neuropathy (PN) and painful peripheral neuropathy (pPN).

Participants from Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI) underwent clinical/metabolic assessments, including iDXA, HGS measurement, corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), vibration perception threshold (VPT), and DN4 questionnaire.

A total of 617 participants (51.2% male, age 43.0 ± 12.4 years, BMI 29.2 ± 5.9 kg/m²) with obesity (41.1%) and diabetes (14.4%) were included. PN was diagnosed in 15 (2.4%) and the prevalence of PN was higher in those with diabetes (6.8% vs 1.7%, P = 0.004) but not in those with obesity (3.6% vs 2.5%, P = 0.492). There was no association between PN and HGS (P = 0.827). Painful PN was diagnosed in 22 (3.6%), higher in females compared to males (6.3% vs 1.4%, P = 0.001) and in those with diabetes (8.0% vs 2.9%, P = 0.018) and obesity (5.1% vs 1.8%, P = 0.041). PPN was associated with HGS (7.1% weak, 3.5% normal, 0.0% strong, P = 0.026). HGS was independently associated with lower DN4 score (β = -0.012, P = 0.027), but not VPT (P = 0.061) or CCM measures (all P ≥ 0.097), after adjustment for age, sex, HbA1c, diabetes duration, inflammatory, hematological, hormonal, and body composition variables. In exploratory analyses with HGS as the dependent variable, DN4 score (β = -1.235, P = 0.019), but not VPT (P = 0.061), was associated with lower HGS.

Reduced HGS is associated with a greater burden of neuropathic symptoms and painful PN. These findings provide rationale for prospective studies testing whether muscle strength-preserving interventions attenuate neuropathic pain or vice versa in individuals with diabetes.