Influence of anthropometric and body composition parameters on handgrip strength in middle-aged and older adults in the Russian Arctic

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Age-related decline in muscle strength is associated with metabolic changes and has a significant impact on performance status and quality of life in older adults. Sarcopenia is caused by a combination of sociodemographic, behavioral, physiological, and climatic factors, underscoring the relevance of studying predictors of muscle strength decline in populations living in unfavorable natural and climatic conditions of Russia’s European North.

AIM: The work aimed to assess the influence of sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, anthropometric measures, and body composition parameters on handgrip strength in middle-aged and older adults residing in the Russian Arctic.

METHODS: The study used data from two cross-sectional population-based studies conducted 7.2 years apart in a single random sample of the adult population of Arkhangelsk (n = 1168). Associations between handgrip strength and sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, anthropometric measures, and body composition parameters were assessed cross-sectionally and longitudinally using linear and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Cross-sectional analyses revealed an age-related decline in handgrip strength in both men and women, with a greater reduction in men. Handgrip strength was positively associated with height, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, as well as with higher education in men. Lower handgrip strength was associated with smoking in men and financial difficulties in women. According to bioimpedance data, higher basal metabolic rate and fat mass percentage were associated with greater handgrip strength, whereas higher muscle mass percentage and body impedance were linked to lower strength. Patterns observed cross-sectionally were partially confirmed in longitudinal data. Greater height, general and abdominal obesity parameters, and higher basal metabolic rate were associated with a lower risk of decline in handgrip strength over time in women, whereas older age, greater body impedance, and higher proportions of muscle mass and body water increased the risk. In men, older age was associated with a higher risk of strength decline, whereas greater height reduced the risk.

CONCLUSION: Handgrip strength in middle-aged and older adults was determined by a set of sex-specific factors. Longitudinal decline in handgrip strength was more strongly associated with anthropometric and body composition parameters than with sociodemographic or behavioral factors. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific differences when developing sarcopenia prevention strategies for residents of the Russian Arctic.

About the authors

Artem A. Abramov

Northern State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: art21541610@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3862-6565
Russian Federation, 51 Troitskiy ave, Arkhangelsk, 163069

Galina N. Kostrova

Northern State Medical University

Email: kostrovagn@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3132-6439
SPIN-code: 9757-7975

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Associate Professor

Russian Federation, 51 Troitskiy ave, Arkhangelsk, 163069

Ekaterina A. Krieger

Northern State Medical University

Email: kate-krieger@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5179-5737
SPIN-code: 2686-7226

MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), PhD, Associate Professor

Russian Federation, 51 Troitskiy ave, Arkhangelsk, 163069

Alexander V. Kudryavtsev

Northern State Medical University

Email: kudryavtsev@nsmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8902-8947
SPIN-code: 9296-2930

PhD

Russian Federation, 51 Troitskiy ave, Arkhangelsk, 163069

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