ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Occupational and other risk factors for hand-grip strength: the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study

L E Charles¹, C M Burchfiel¹, D Fekedulegn¹, M L Kashon¹, G W Ross^2,3,4,5, W T Sanderson⁶, H Petrovitch^2,3,4,5

¹ Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA
² Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System, Honolulu, HI, USA
³ The Pacific Health Research Institute, Honolulu, HI, USA
⁴ Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Medicine, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
⁵ Kuakini Medical Center and the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study, Honolulu, HI, USA
⁶ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, the University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA

Correspondence to:
Dr L E Charles
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HELD/BEB, MS L-4050, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888, USA; lcharles{at}cdc.gov

Background: In certain occupations, including farm work, workers are exposed to hazardous substances, some of which are known to be toxic to the nervous system and may adversely affect muscle strength. Measurement of hand-grip strength may be useful for detecting neurotoxic exposure.

Methods: The authors studied 3522 participants of the Honolulu Heart Program and the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study to determine whether occupational exposures to pesticides, solvents, and metals assessed at exam I (1965–68) are associated with hand-grip strength at exam IV (1991–93) and change in hand-grip strength over 25 years. Correlation, analysis of variance and covariance, and linear regression were used to evaluate the associations.

Results: At exam IV, participants ranged in age from 71–93 years; mean hand-grip strength was 39.6 kg at exam I and 30.3 kg at exam IV. Over 25 years, the decline in hand-grip strength was an average of 8–9 kg for all exposures. Hand-grip strength was inversely associated with age and glucose but directly associated with cognitive function, BMI, and haemoglobin level. No other exposures were associated with hand-grip strength.

Conclusion: This study did not provide evidence that occupational exposure to pesticides, solvents, and metals adversely affected hand-grip strength in this population, but confirmed other important associations with hand-grip strength.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CASI, Cognitive Abilities Screening Index Instrument; HAAS, Honolulu-Asia Aging Study; HHP, Honolulu Heart Program; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; NIOSH, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; PEL, permissible exposure limit; PPE, personal protection equipment

Keywords: hand strength; occupational exposures; aging

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