Longer reproductive period not linked to weak hand grip strength among postmenopausal women: Study

Muscle strength declines post-menopause. Hand grip strength (HGS), reflecting overall strength, is related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

According to an original investigation published in MENOPAUSE, Lee et al. and colleagues from Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital have demonstrated an association between menopausal age and reproductive period with handgrip strength in postmenopausal women.

Two thousand three hundred fifty-four postmenopausal women aged 45-75 were analyzed statistically. The reproductive period was divided into thirds, and Hand grip strength (HGS) was divided into four quartiles. Hand grip strength (HGS) was assessed to measure muscle strength. Based on quartile data, binary logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors for the first quartile HGS. Multiple logistic regression examined the relationship between the reproductive period (exposure) and low Hand grip strength (HGS) (outcome).

Menarche and menopause affect muscle strength in women, as measured by handgrip strength. However, it is unclear if the entire reproductive period, which includes both events (both menarche and menopause), affects handgrip strength in postmenopausal women.

The summary from this original investigation includes the following points of consideration:

· Extended reproductive period correlates with lower Hand grip strength (HGS) risk.

· The odds ratio for low absolute HGS was 0.752 in the second tertile reproductive period and 0.683 in the third tertile reproductive period, compared to the first tertile.

· After adjusting for covariates, The odds ratio for low Hand grip strength (HGS) was 0.761 for the second tertile and 0.732 for the third tertile, with the first tertile as the reference.

They said, " A longer reproductive period is associated with a decreased risk of low hand grip strength in postmenopausal women.”

Reference:

Lee et al. The association between reproductive period and handgrip strength in postmenopausal women: a nationwide cross-sectional study. Menopause ():10.1097/GME.0000000000002283, November 28, 2023.