Absolute or relative handgrip strength – Which one is a better cancer risk predictor? Findings from the UK Biobank prospective study

Mini-Oral Presentation B2.9

Authors

  • Solange Parra-Soto University of Glasgow
  • Jill P. Pell University of Glasgow
  • Carlos Celis-Morales University of Glasgow; Universidad Mayor; Universidad Catolica del Maule
  • Frederick K. Ho University of Glasgow

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.616

Keywords:

Hand Strength, Cancer, Cohort Study, Body Mass Index

Abstract

Background: Reduced muscular strength has been associated with an increased risk of some site-specific cancers. However, there is a lack of evidence on whether grip strength expressed in absolute or relative terms could predict cancer risk differently. Purpose: Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between absolute and relative grip strength with all-cause and 15 site-specific cancers. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study using data from the UK Biobank. There were 445,552 participants (53.8% women; mean age 56.3) across the UK. The exposure variable was grip strength, in absolute form (kg) and relative to weight, body mass index (BMI), height and body fat mass (BFM), the outcome was incident cancer (fatal and non-fatal). Cox proportional hazard and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: During an 8.8-year follow-up period, 48,886 patients were diagnosed with cancer and 11,560 died from it. Absolute grip strength was inversely associated with five cancer sites including endometrium (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.69; 0.79), gallbladder (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.72; 0.92), liver (HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.79; 0.93), kidney (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88; 0.99), breast cancer (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91; 0.96), and all-cause cancer (HR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95; 0.98). Similar risk estimate for these cancers were observed when grip strength was expressed in relation to body weight, BMI and body fat but not when was expressed relative to height (Figure 1). Conclusions: Absolute grip provide similar risk estimate to those observed for relative grip strength using body weight, BMI and body fat, but not height. Funding: SPS receives financial support from the Chilean Government for doing her PhD (ANID-Becas Chile 2019).

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Parra-Soto, S., Pell, J., Celis-Morales, C., & Ho, F. (2021). Absolute or relative handgrip strength – Which one is a better cancer risk predictor? Findings from the UK Biobank prospective study: Mini-Oral Presentation B2.9. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.616

Most read articles by the same author(s)