Purpose: In previous studies, there were debates on the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Since body weight is associated with both HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome, whether HGS is corrected with body weight (relative HGS) or not (absolute HGS) can directly influence outcome of the study. Therefore, this study analyzed the relationship between HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome using both relative and absolute HGS. Methods: A total of 1009 Korean adults (488 men and 521 women) were analyzed. Participants were categorized into three groups according to HGS levels. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of metabolic syndrome associated with both relative and absolute HGS. Results: Lower absolute HGS was associated with lower prevalence of having abnormal blood pressure (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37-0.97) and glucose levels (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.88) in men. However, no association was found between absolute HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome. However, a significant inverse association was found between relative HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Compared with participants in the highest tertile, those in the lowest tertile of relative HGS had 2.52 times (95% CI: 1.43-4.46) and 5.01 times (95% CI: 1.66-15.08) higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in men and women, respectively. Conclusion: Lower relative HGS but not absolute HGS was associated with higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Our study showed that there are evident discrepancies in the association between HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome whether HGS is corrected by body weight or not.

ObjectiveProper exercise immediately after breast cancer surgery (BCS) may prevent unnecessary physical and psychological decline resulting from the surgery; however, patients’ attitude, barriers and facilitators for exercise during this period have not been studied. Hence, this study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators of exercise among patients with breast cancer through multiple interviews immediately after surgery through 4 weeks after BCS.MethodsWe conducted three in-depth interviews of 33 patients with breast cancer within 1 month after BCS.ResultsWe identified 44 themes, 10 codes and 5 categories from interview results. Physical constraints and psychological resistance were identified as the barriers to exercise, while a sense of purpose and first-hand exercise experience were identified as the facilitators of exercise. By conducting the interviews over the course of 4 weeks after surgery, we monitored patterns of changes in barriers and facilitators over time. Overall, our analyses identified that professional intervention based on the time since surgery and the physical state after BCS is essential. The intervention would counteract the overwhelming psychological resistance in the early weeks by developing a sense of purpose in the later weeks.ConclusionsWe made suggestions for future research and exercise intervention programmes that can benefit breast cancer survivors based on the categories, codes and themes identified in this study.

ObjectiveAlthough exercise is beneficial in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), motivating patients to exercise is challenging. We aimed to understand exercise barriers and facilitators during HSCT treatment while participating in a daily unsupervised exercise programme.ParticipantsPatients scheduled to have HSCT.Study design6 participants were included in this descriptive qualitative study during HSCT treatment while participating in an exercise programme to identify perceived barriers and facilitators of the exercise. An average of three semi-structured interviews were conducted per patient.SettingExercise during HSCT treatment in an isolated immune room.InterventionDaily unsupervised exercise.ResultsA total of six patients completed a 6-week exercise programme as well as all scheduled interviews, whose compliance to the exercise programme ranged from 12% to 79%. Based on interview results, three themes were identified as barriers to exercise and four themes were identified as facilitators to exercise. Patients experienced physical and psychological barriers such as nausea, vomiting, sore throat, reduced appetite, decreased willpower and anxiety due to feelings of isolation. Environmental factors included negative opinions about exercise programmes and lack of encouragement from the haematologist. Facilitators of exercise included willpower, easy and simple exercise, convincing explanations from haematologists and supervised support from exercise specialists.ConclusionOur study has identified potential barriers and facilitators associated with exercise participation during HSCT. Supervised exercise recommended by a haematologist, convincing explanation on the benefit of exercise by medical personnel, positive feedback from other HSCT survivors and supervision by exercise specialists may increase compliance to the exercise programme during HSCT.Trial registration numberISRCTN61498391.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine whether handgrip strength (HGS) expressed as absolute or relative to body weight is associated with fasting glucose (FG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in different age categories.METHODS:A total of 28,129 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2014-2018 was analyzed. To examine the relationship between HGS and variables related to DM, participants were categorized into three groups according to their HGS (Tertile). Then, participants were further categorized into six groups according to their age. One-way ANOVA and logistic regression analyses were performed.RESULTS: Compared with participants in the upper tertile of absolute handgrip strength (AHGS), those in the lower tertile were older, shorter and heavier and also had higher FG and HbA1c. When age was adjusted, the prevalence of DM was 1.19 times (95% CI: 1.03-1.38) higher among men in the lowest tertile of AHGS. On the other hand, compared with participants in the highest tertile of relative handgrip strength (RHGS), those in the lowest tertile had 2.10 times (95% CI: 1.87-2.41) and 2.42 times (95% CI: 2.08-2.81) higher prevalence of DM in men and women, respectively. When the associations were examined according to age subcategories, significant associations between AHGS and the prevalence of DM were seen only in men in their 50s and 60s, but not seen in women in all age groups, with the exception of the 60s. However, significant associations between RHGS and the prevalence of DM were seen in all age subcategories.CONCLUSIONS:We concluded that the association between HGS and the prevalence of DM was dependent on age and RHGS is a stonger measure than AHGS.

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