Low Grip Strength and Muscle Mass Increase the Prevalence of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Elderly Women

Correlation Between Handgrip Strength and Bone Density and Fragility Fracture Risk Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Population aging has led to a surge in elderly care needs worldwide. Bone aging, skeletal muscle degeneration, and osteoporosis pose critical health challenges for the elderly. The process of bone and skeletal muscle aging not only impacts the functional abilities but also increases fragility fracture risk. Although a negative correlation between handgrip strength and fragility fracture risk has been identified in elderly populations, there is a lack of related research in Taiwan.

PURPOSE

This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the association between handgrip strength and two outcome variables, bone density and risk of fragility fracture, in Taiwanese individuals aged 65 years and older with low bone mass.

METHODS

A total of 548 older adults, including 84 men and 464 women, were recruited between August 2019 and July 2021. Bone mineral density T -scores acquired using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, the total score for the Taiwan-specific Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool, and bilateral handgrip strength acquired using a digital hand dynamometer were recorded along with other factors such as comorbidities, dietary habits, and daily activities.

RESULTS

In this study, the mean age was 70.9 ( SD = 5.6) years, mean bone mass index was 24.1 ( SD = 3.5) kg/m 2 , mean FRAX main fracture risk score was 19.5% ( SD = 8.3), and mean FRAX hip fracture risk score was 7.7% ( SD = 5.7). Lumbar and hip T -scores were both significantly correlated with both dominant and nondominant handgrip strength in older woman. Older age; both lower hip and spine T -scores; both lower dominant and nondominant handgrip strengths; having Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, or chronic hepatic disease; and lacking a steady job were significantly associated with a higher risk of fragility fracture.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The results of this study provide important information regarding the correlation between handgrip strength and several variables, including bone mineral density T -score, FRAX score, comorbidities, and job status, among older adults. Notably, these correlations were found to be particularly strong in the female participants. This information may be used to facilitate the early identification of elderly individuals at a high risk of fragility fractures, enabling the timely development of preventive nursing strategies and the provision of targeted interventions.

Frailty and the Correlation Between Total Testosterone Levels and Urinary Incontinence Among Elderly Women

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The objective was to explore the correlation between total testosterone levels and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) in older patients, emphasizing frailty.

METHODS

This prospective cross-sectional study included 1,328 women over 60 years of age at an incontinence specialty clinic. Participants were assessed for UI, frailty, using the Japanese Frailty Scale, and total testosterone levels. Analysis of a logistic regression model was employed for age, body mass index (BMI), and vaginal deliveries adjustment, with association and multivariate analyses to evaluate the associations with SUI and UUI.

RESULTS

The frailty and nonfrailty groups each consisted of 664 individuals. After age, BMI, and the number of vaginal deliveries adjustment, the analysis showed a negative association between total testosterone levels and both SUI (p < 0.001) and UUI (p < 0.001) in the frailty group. Multivariate analysis revealed that, in the nonfrailty group, factors such as low total testosterone levels (p = 0.0145), diabetes (p = 0.0052), and cerebral infarction (p = 0.0254) were related to SUI, whereas no significant factors were associated with UUI. In the frailty group, factors associated with SUI included low total testosterone levels (p < 0.0001), the number of vaginal deliveries (p < 0.0001), smoking (p = 0.0240), chronic lung disease (p < 0.0248), and hypertension (p < 0.0265). Factors associated with UUI were age (p < 0.0001), low total testosterone levels (p = 0.0025), diabetes (p < 0.0001), and the number of vaginal deliveries (p = 0.0152).

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the significance of incorporating the assessment of frailty and testosterone levels in addressing UI among older women, particularly in the aged population, underscoring the need for tailored approaches in this demographic.

Independent factors that attenuate the effectiveness of fracture rehabilitation in improving activities of daily living in female patients aged 80 years and above

BACKGROUND

Some factors, such as cognitive impairment, can attenuate the effectiveness of rehabilitation. We hypothesized that handgrip strength (HGS) might be one of the independent factors affecting the activities of daily living (ADL) improvements in patients with fractures.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HGS and improvement in ADL during rehabilitation, and to assess the factors affecting ADL improvement among older patients ≥ 80 years with fractures.

METHODS

This longitudinal study was conducted at a rehabilitation hospital among 427 females aged ≥ 80 years, who underwent fracture rehabilitation. Patients were divided into two groups based on their HGS. Analysis of comparison between the two groups and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed with respect to functional independence measure (FIM) gain during rehabilitation.

RESULTS

FIM gain was significantly lower in the weak HGS group (31.5 [20.0-41.0]) than in the strong HGS group (35.0 [27.5-47.0], p = 0.011). In multivariate linear regression analyses, HGS was significantly associated with FIM gain (coefficient: 0.683, 95% confidence intervals 0.302-1.064, p < 0.001). In addition, Mini-Mental State Examination, necessity of assistance in ADL before injury, length of hospital stays for rehabilitation, and period of rehabilitation per day were significantly associated with FIM gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Weak HGS, cognitive impairment, and necessity of assistance in ADL before injury could be independent factors that attenuate the effectiveness of fracture rehabilitation to improve ADL in old female patients. We encourage such patients to undertake more rehabilitation for improving their ADL, and not refrain from rehabilitation due to old age and fracture.

Pathophysiology of Demineralization, Part I: Attrition, Erosion, Abfraction, and Noncarious Cervical Lesions

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Compare pathophysiology for infectious and noninfectious demineralization disease relative to mineral maintenance, physiologic fluoride levels, and mechanical degradation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Environmental acidity, biomechanics, and intercrystalline percolation of endemic fluoride regulate resistance to demineralization relative to osteopenia, noncarious cervical lesions, and dental caries. Demineralization is the most prevalent chronic disease in the world: osteoporosis (OP) >10%, dental caries ~100%. OP is severely debilitating while caries is potentially fatal. Mineralized tissues have a common physiology: cell-mediated apposition, protein matrix, fluid logistics (blood, saliva), intercrystalline ion percolation, cyclic demineralization/remineralization, and acid-based degradation (microbes, clastic cells). Etiology of demineralization involves fluid percolation, metabolism, homeostasis, biomechanics, mechanical wear (attrition or abrasion), and biofilm-related infections. Bone mineral density measurement assesses skeletal mass. Attrition, abrasion, erosion, and abfraction are diagnosed visually, but invisible subsurface caries <400μm cannot be detected. Controlling demineralization at all levels is an important horizon for cost-effective wellness worldwide.

Association between muscle mass, bone mineral density and osteoporosis in type 2 diabetes

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased incidence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. However, the relationship between osteoporosis and sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus remains to be unclear. Appendicular skeletal muscle was adjusted by height (appendicular skeletal muscle mass [ASM]/height2 ) as a marker of sarcopenia. This study aimed to explore the relationship between ASM/height2 , osteoporosis and bone mineral density (BMD) in this population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 192 women and 225 men with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited. General information, laboratory and BMD data were collected. Spearman's correlation, multiple regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to explore the correlation between ASM/height2 , BMD and bone metabolism markers.

RESULTS

Spearman's correlation analysis showed that ASM/height2 had a positive correlation with serum calcium and BMD (r = 0.209-0.404, P < 0.01). In multivariate regression analysis, we found significant correlations between ASM/height2 and total lumbar spine, hip and femur neck BMD. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve, ASM/height2 was the best marker of osteoporosis, with a cut-off value of 7.87 kg/m2 for men and 5.94 kg/m2 for women. When these cut-off values were used to identify sarcopenia, the risk of osteoporosis increased 6.036-fold in men and 4.079-fold in women, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, ASM/height2 was positively correlated with BMD, and negatively correlated with osteoporosis.