Weak Grip Linked to More Pneumonia and Sepsis
Graded Moderate — more than 400,000 people were followed for over 13 years and the result was repeated in Hong Kong, but observational data cannot show cause and effect.
- Design
- Prospective cohort study
- Participants
- 409,925
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- —
People with weak grip strength got pneumonia, urinary tract infections and sepsis more often, especially if they were underweight.
People with a weaker grip were more likely to come down with common infections. That is the result of tracking more than 400,000 adults in the UK. For every 5 kilograms less grip strength, the risk of pneumonia was 10 percent higher. The same pattern held for urinary tract infections, skin infections and sepsis, a life-threatening overreaction of the body to an infection.
The researchers measured grip strength once with a hand-held device in the UK Biobank, a large British health study. They then followed participants for a median of 13.6 to 15.3 years. Factors such as age, lifestyle and existing health problems were taken into account. A group of 4,474 adults in Hong Kong showed largely the same picture. The link was strongest in people who were underweight.
In blood samples from part of the group, the team looked for an explanation. Two proteins tied to inflammation and immune defence statistically explained 12 to 14 percent of the link. The authors see grip strength as a clue to infection risk that goes beyond body mass index. Whether building strength prevents infections cannot be read from this: the study only observed people.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.