Better pulmonary function is associated with increased handgrip strength in a healthy Chinese Han population

Background: The association between handgrip strength (HGS) and pulmonary function is still controversial, and this relationship has not yet been established among the healthy Chinese Han population.Methods: Data from 1519 healthy Han community dwellers in Beijing were analysed. Subjects were divided into two groups by age: the younger group (<60 years) and the elderly group (≥60 years). Bivariate correlation tests were run between parameters, and variables with a correlation coefficient ǀrǀ≥0.30 and p<0.01 were considered to be significantly correlated. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to adjust covariates in the relationship between HGS and pulmonary function.Results: The study included 623 males and 896 females. The values of HGS were greater in males than in females (40.2 kg vs 25.0 kg, p<0.01) and greater in the younger group than in the elderly group (33.3 kg vs 27.6 kg, p<0.01). HGS and parameters of pulmonary function were highly negatively correlated with age, especially forced expiratory volume in 1 second (r=-0.55, p<0.01), forced expiratory volume in 2 second (r=-0.53, p<0.01) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (r=-0.50, p<0.01). Parameters of pulmonary function were positively associated with HGS, especially the maximum value of vital capacity (VC max) (r=-0.72, p<0.01), forced expiratory volume in 3 second (FEV 3) (r=0.70, p<0.01) and FVC (r=0.69, p<0.01). Therefore, we selected VC max, FEV 3 and FVC as three representative parameters to analyse the relationship between HGS and pulmonary function. In the relationship between HGS and pulmonary function, in addition to gender and age, there were other covariates: height, pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure. After adjusting covariates in the multiple linear regression analysis, the standardized coefficients of HGS on VC max were 0.254 in males and 0.175 in females, and the standardized coefficients of HGS on FVC were 0.225 in males and 0.182 in females.Conclusions: Pulmonary function and HGS were both declined with age. HGS was an independent factor that affected pulmonary function, apart from age. Training in HGS may help to improve pulmonary function in healthy people.