Handgrip strength cutoff for cardiometabolic risk index among Colombian children and adolescents: The FUPRECOL Study

• Authors: Robinson Ramirez-Velez, Universidad del Rosario; Jhonatan Camilo Pena-Ibagon, Universidad del Rosario; Javier Martinez-Torres, Universidad del Rosario; Alejandra Tordecilla-Sanders, Universidad del Rosario; Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista, Universidad del Rosario; Felipe Lobelo, Emory University; Antonio Garcia-Hermoso, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
• Journal Title: Scientific Reports
• Volume: Volume 7
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option C | 2017-02-14, Pages 42622-42622
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/srep42622
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, General
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics; HEALTH-RELATED FITNESS; METABOLIC SYNDROME; MUSCULAR STRENGTH; PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY; CARDIOVASCULAR RISK; YOUTH; PREVALENCE; OVERWEIGHT; THRESHOLDS; WEAKNESS

Abstract

Evidence shows an association between muscular strength (MS) and health among young people, however low muscular strength cut points for the detection of high metabolic risk in Latin-American populations are scarce. The aim of this study was twofold: to explore potential age- and sex-specific thresholds of MS, for optimal cardiometabolic risk categorization among Colombian children and adolescents; and to investigate whether cardiometabolic risk differed by MS group by applying the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) cut point. MS was estimated by using a handle dynamometer on 1,950 children and adolescents from Colombia, using MS relative to weight (handgrip strength/body mass). A metabolic risk score was computed from the following components: waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-c, glucose, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. ROC analysis showed a significant discriminatory accuracy of MS in identifying the low/high metabolic risk in children and adolescents and in both genders. In children, the handgrip strength/body mass levels for a low metabolic risk were 0.359 and 0.376 in girls and boys, respectively. In adolescents, these points were 0.440 and 0.447 in girls and boys, respectively. In conclusion, the results suggest an MS level relative to weight for having a low metabolic risk, which could be used to identify youths at risk.