Association between hand grip/body weight ratio and disability pension due to musculoskeletal disorders: A population-based cohort study of 1 million Swedish men

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the predictive value of hand grip/body weight ratio and hand grip strength in early adulthood for obtaining a disability pension (DP) due to musculoskeletal disorders in later life. Methods: A nationwide population-based sample of men born 1951–76 (n = 1,387,166) in Sweden and anthropometric and strength indicators from their conscription examination. Register data on the date and diagnoses of granted DP between the years 1971–2006. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: The lowest quintile of hand grip/body weight ratio predicted a greatly increased risk (HR 2.51, 95% CI 2.40–2.63) for DP due to musculoskeletal disorders compared to the mid-quintile. The highest quintile of hand grip/body weight ratio predicted a decreased risk (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.84). Stratification of the hand grip/body weight ratio with body mass index confirmed the results. However, the highest quintiles of hand grip strength adjusted for height and weight predicted a somewhat increased risk for DP due to musculoskeletal disorders (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.18–1.32). Conclusions: This study indicates that the hand grip/body weight ratio in young adulthood is strongly and inversely associated with men's risk of obtaining a disability pension due to musculoskeletal disorders in later life. However, the risk seems to be mediated through the body weight. The properties of hand grip/body weight ratio should be further evaluated before it can be recommended for use in clinical and epidemiological studies.