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Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) has been widely studied in clinical and epidemiological settings, but the relationship between HGS and pulmonary function is still controversial. This study analyzed pulmonary function and HGS stratified by sex and age in a healthy Chinese Han population, as well as the associations between HGS and pulmonary function parameters. Methods: HGS was measured by a Jamar dynamometer and pulmonary function was tested using a portable spirometer. Frequencies and variables are presented as percentages and means ± standard deviations, respectively. Chi-square tests were used for comparisons of categorical variables, and Student’s t-tests or Mann–Whitney U-tests were used for continuous variables. Pearson correlation analysis was used between normally distributed variables, and Spearman correlation analysis was used for non-normally distributed variables. Multivariate linear regression models were employed to explore the relationships between HGS and parameters of pulmonary function. The statistical significance was set at p <0.01. Results: Cross-sectional data were available for 1519 subjects (59.0% females, 57.9±13.1 years old). Males had higher average HGS than females (40.2 vs 25.0 kg, p <0.01 ), as well as better pulmonary function. Both HGS and pulmonary function parameters were significantly inversely correlated with age (r ≤ -0.30, p < 0.01). Maximum value of vital capacity (VC max), forced expiratory volume in 3 second (FEV3) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were strongly correlated with HGS among the pulmonary function indices (r=0.72, 0.70 and 0.69, respectively, p <0.001). In multivariate linear regression analysis, HGS and height were positively correlated, while age and pulse pressure were negatively correlated with HGS. In male, FVC, VC max and FEV3 increased by 0.02L, 0.023L and 0.03L in per 1 kg increase in HGS, respectively. The coefficients of HGS in female was smaller than those in male. Conclusions: Both pulmonary function and HGS were inversely correlated with age, and better pulmonary function was associated with greater handgrip strength.

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.

Objective. It is not clear which Traditional Chinese Medicine- (TCM-) related elements affect primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) progression. Here, we explored the risk factors, based on TCM syndrome elements, related to the prognosis of primary IgAN patients. Methods. We analyzed patients with newly diagnosed, biopsy-proven IgAN at a single institution from December 2013 to September 2021. Basic clinical and pathological characteristics were assessed at the time of renal biopsy. The study endpoint was end-stage renal disease (ESRD: eGFR <15 ml/min per 1.73 m2, dialysis, or kidney transplantation) and/or eGFR decreased by >30% from baseline. Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis was used to explore the role of TCM syndrome elements in IgAN progression. Multivariate Cox regression analysis with adjustment for traditional risk factors was performed to explore TCM syndrome elements that may influence patient prognosis. The factors correlated with TCM syndrome elements in IgAN patients were further evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Results. During a median follow-up of 22.0 months, 53 (12.5%) of the 423 included IgAN patients reached the study endpoint. The main IgAN disease location elements were the kidney, liver, and spleen. The main IgAN disease nature elements were Yin-deficiency and Qi-deficiency, dampness, Yang-deficiency, phlegm, and Blood-deficiency. Kaplan‒Meier analysis identified three disease locations (liver, spleen, and kidney) and four disease natures (Qi-deficiency, Yang-deficiency, phlegm, and dampness) as elements associated with poor renal survival in IgAN patients. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, baseline Yang-deficiency was an independent risk predictor of poor prognosis in primary IgAN patients (hazard ratio 2.338; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.208–4.525; P = 0.012 ) after adjustment for traditional risk factors. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis identified being female (odds ratio [OR] 2.518; 95% CI: 1.538–4.122; P < 0.001 ), older age (OR 1.043; 95% CI: 1.022–1.065; P < 0.001 ), low hemoglobin levels (OR 0.984; 95% CI: 0.971–0.996; P = 0.013 ), and cellular/fibrocellular crescents (OR 1.706; 95% CI: 1.068–2.728; P = 0.026 ) as factors affecting Yang-deficiency in IgAN patients. Conclusions. Yang-deficiency independently predicts the risk of poor prognosis in primary IgAN patients. Being female, older age, low hemoglobin levels, and cellular/fibrocellular crescents were independently associated with Yang-deficiency in IgAN patients.