Grip strength in men and women aged 50–79 years is associated with non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture during 15 years follow-up:​ the Tromsø Study 1994–1995

Søgaard, A. J.<sup>1</sup>; Magnus, J. H.<sup>2</sup>; Bjørnerem, Å.<sup>3,4</sup>; Holvik, K.<sup>1</sup>; Ranhoff, A. H.<sup>1,5</sup>; Emaus, N.<sup>6</sup>; Meyer, H. E.<sup>1,7</sup>; Strand, B. H.<sup>1,7,8</sup>

Affiliations

¹Division of Mental and Physical Health, Department of Chronic Diseases and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

²Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

³Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway

⁵Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

⁶Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

⁷Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

⁸Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Aging and Health, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway

Abstract and keywords

Summary: In 50–79-year-olds who participated in the Tromsø Study (1994–1995), the risk of non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures during 15 years follow-up increased by 22% in men and 9% in women per 1 SD lower grip strength. The strongest association was observed in men aged 50–64 years.

Introduction: We aimed to explore whether low grip strength was associated with increased risk of non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture in the population-based Tromsø Study 1994–1995.

Methods: Grip strength (bar) was measured by a Martin Vigorimeter and fractures were retrieved from the X-ray archives at the University Hospital of North Norway between 1994 and 2010. At baseline, weight and height were measured, whereas information on the other covariates were obtained through self-reported questionnaires. Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of fracture in age- and gender-specific quintiles of grip-strength, and per 1 SD lower grip strength. Similar analyses were done solely for hip fractures. Adjustments were made for age, height, body mass index (BMI), marital status, education, smoking, physical activity, use of alcohol, self-perceived health, and self-reported diseases.

Results: In 2891 men and 4002 women aged 50–79 years, 1099 non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures—including 393 hip fractures—were sustained during the median 15 years follow-up. Risk of non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture increased with declining grip strength: hazard ratios per SD decline was 1.22 (95% CI 1.05–1.43) in men and 1.09 (95% CI 1.01–1.18) in women. HR for fracture in lower vs. upper quintile was 1.58 (95% CI 1.02–2.45) in men and 1.28 (95% CI 1.03–1.59) in women. The association was most pronounced in men aged 50–64 years with HR = 3.39 (95% CI 1.76–6.53) in the lower compared to the upper quintile.

Conclusions: The risk of non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture increased with declining grip-strength in both genders, particularly in men aged 50–64 years.

Keywords: Age; Cohort study; Gender; Grip strength; Hip fracture; Non-vertebral osteoporotic fracture

Links

DOI: 10.1007/s00198-019-05191-4

PubMed: 31650188

WoS: 000492355600001

History

Received: 2019-04-12

Accepted: 2019-10-07

Online: 2019-10-25

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Cited By (1)

Year	Entry
2023	Alajlouni DA, Bliuc D, Tran TS, Blank RD, Center JR. Muscle strength and physical performance contribute to and improve fracture risk prediction in older people: a narrative review. Bone. July 2023;172:116755.