Higher Abdominal Adiposity Is Associated With Lower Muscle Strength in Chilean Adults

The relationship between muscle strength and epicardial fat in healthy adults

BACKGROUND

Muscular strength and muscle mass are considered key factors for healthy ageing. Modification of body composition and redistribution of adipose tissue has been described in advanced age. Muscle strength has an important predictive role for health outcomes. However, little is known regarding the relationship between muscle strength and epicardial fat.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

In a cohort of healthy adults following physical capacity evaluations, anthropometric measurements, handgrip strength (HGS), echocardiography and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) were performed. Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's correlation and regression analysis adjusted for confounders were applied.

RESULTS

A total population of 226 adults, age range 18-83 years, were included. Epicardial fat thickness resulted significantly associated with age p < 0.001, HGS (p < 0.001). Regression analysis adjusted for confounders revealed an independent relationship between handgrip strength and epicardial fat thickness: regression coefficient: -1.34; R2 = 0.27 and p = 0.044.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between epicardial fat and muscle strength is inverse and independent. Implementation of HGS measurement may be useful for the identification of subjects with excessive epicardial fat and cardiovascular risk. Measurement of epicardial fat could be helpful in the early detection of physical decline associated to ageing.

Influence of visceral adiposity on cardiovascular risk in patients with systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, generalized fibrosis and high cardiovascular mortality. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk through the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been helpful due to its direct relationship to the body and visceral fat percentage. We evaluated the influence of body composition and anthropometrics on cardiovascular risk as measured by VAI in healthy controls (HC) and SSc. An analytical cross-sectional study of 66 participants (33 SSc and 33 HC), mean age 52.7 ± 10, 95% women, was conducted from August 2020 to January 2021. Inclusion criteria in cases were consecutive patients with SSc (ACR/EULAR 2013), 63.6% were diffuse cutaneous (dcSS) subtype, and 36.4 were limited cutaneous (lcSS) subtype. HC was matched by age and gender. Serum lipid profiles and InBody anthropometrics were analyzed and compared. We performed descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis with Student's t, or Mann-Whitney U, correlation and chi-square according to the variable type and distribution. Total cholesterol was significantly higher in SSc than HC (345 vs 194, p = < 0.001). The BMI was higher in HC (26.2 vs 28.9, p < 0.001). Kilograms of muscle (19.8 vs 28.9, p < 0.001) and total fat (23.4 vs 28.9, p < 0.001) were lower in SSc patients compared to HC. VAI was similar when BMI < 25, but significantly higher when BMI > 25 in SSc than in HC (3 vs 1.9, p = 0.030). The increase in BMI at overweight or obese in SSc is associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular risk.

Relationship between a body shape index and muscle strength index in Chinese university students: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

The problem of overweight obesity and decrease in muscle strength among university students has become an indisputable fact. In this study, a comprehensive index reflecting obesity degree a body shape index (ABSI) and a comprehensive index reflecting muscle strength muscle strength index (MSI) were studied to analyze the cross-sectional correlations existing between them.

METHODS

This study began recruiting participants and conducting the test survey in April 2022 and closed in July 2022. Basic condition, height, weight, waist circumference, grip strength, pull-up (boys), bent-leg sit-up (girls), and standing long jump were tested on 12,046 (boys: 6011, 49.90%) university students aged 19-22 years in China, and ABSI and MSI were calculated separately. ABSI was categorized into 5 groups according to age and sex, namely ABSI < 5th percentile (A), 5th ≤ ABSI < 25th percentile (B), 25th ≤ ABSI < 75th percentile (C), 75th ≤ ABSI < 95th percentile (D) and ABSI ≥ 95th percentile (E). The comparison of MSI between different ABSI groups was performed using effect size, and the association between them was performed by curve estimation analysis.

RESULTS

The association between ABSI and MSI of Chinese university students showed an inverted "U" curve. The effect of increased ABSI on MSI was greater in university girls compared to boys. The ABSI of boys was (0.080 ± 0.010) and MSI was (-0.005 ± 2.080); the ABSI of girls was (0.079 ± 0.008) and MSI was (-0.017 ± 1.867). Overall, university students ABSI was at a relatively high point for MSI between 0.050 and 0.100. The university students ABSI at 0.150 had an MSI of -1.229 for boys and - 2.779 for girls.

CONCLUSION

The ABSI of Chinese university students showed an inverted "U"-shaped curve relationship with MSI, and university students with low or high ABSI had lower MSI. The effect of increasing ABSI on the decrease of MSI was more obvious for girls than for boys.

Handgrip Strength and Clinical Evolution of People Living with HIV: A Mini Narrative Review

HIV infection is a worldwide epidemic. Antiretroviral therapy allows people living with HIV (PLHIV) increased longevity and a better quality of life. Among the various ways of monitoring the clinical evolution of PLHIV, handgrip strength (HGS) is a promising strategy, as this test can be used to assess the health condition quickly and at a low cost. In this sense, the present study aims to describe, through a literature review, the relationship between HGS and the clinical evolution of PLHIV, especially with morbimortality. Initially, it is highlighted that aging, HIV infection, and excess body fat are related to the loss of HGS in PLHIV. Furthermore, PLHIV is more likely to present cardiometabolic diseases that can be aggravated by reduced HGS. Thus, in people without positive HIV serology, low HGS indirectly, through the presence of risk factors or cardiometabolic diseases, or directly increases the chance of mortality. In conclusion, the lack of studies on this topic for PLHIV is highlighted, and more longitudinal studies, including control groups, are needed.

Muscle Quality Index in Morbidly Obesity Patients Related to Metabolic Syndrome Markers and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

BACKGROUND

Muscle quality index (MQI) is an emerging health indicator obtained by dividing handgrip strength by body mass index (BMI) that needs to be studied in morbidly obese patients (defined by BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²).

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between MQI, metabolic syndrome (MetS) markers, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and as a second objective to determine the potential mediation role of MQI in the relationship between abdominal obesity and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in this sample.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 86 severely/morbidly obese patients (age = 41.1 ± 11.9 y, nine men). MQI, metabolic syndrome markers, CRF, and anthropometric parameters were measured. Two groups were developed according to MQI; High-MQI (n = 41) and Low-MQI (n = 45).

RESULTS

The Low-MQI group reported higher abdominal obesity (High-MQI: 0.7 ± 0.1 vs. Low-MQI: 0.8 ± 0.1 WC/height; p = 0.011), SBP (High-MQI: 133.0 ± 17.5 vs. Low-MQI: 140.1 ± 15.1 mmHg; p = 0.048), and lower CRF (High-MQI; 26.3 ± 5.9 vs. Low-MQI; 22.4 ± 6.1 mL/kg/min, p = 0.003) than the High-MQI group. Waist-to-height ratio (β: -0.07, p = 0.011), SBP (β: -18.47, p = 0.001), and CRF (β: 5.21, p = 0.011) were linked to MQI. In a mediation model, the indirect effect confirms that MQI is a partial mediator of the association between abdominal obesity with SBP.

CONCLUSIONS

MQI in morbidly obesity patients reported an inverse association with MetS markers and a positive association with CRF (VO2_max). It mediates the relationship between abdominal obesity and SBP.