Relationship of handgrip strength with health indicators of people living with HIV in west Para, Brazil

Background Handgrip strength (HGS) is an important health indicator that can be influenced by body composition and biochemical markers of people living with HIV, contributing to better understanding of health-related outcomes. Objective To analyze the relationship between HGS and health indicators in people living with HIV. Methods Cross-sectional study, with 207 people living with HIV, attending a reference center, located in Santarem, Para, Brazil. Data collection covered sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, physical activity level, body composition, and HGS information. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, adopting p < .05. Results There was a predominance of men (60%), aged 33-47 years (42%). A relationship was observed between adequate HGS and the male sex (p < .001), and adequate values for body mass index (p = .003), abdominal circumference (p < .001), and total cholesterol (p = .012). In addition, higher values of fat mass (p < .001), and lower lean mass (p = .006) were observed for people living with HIV with low HGS. Conclusion People living with HIV present an association between lean body mass and high HGS. On the other hand, low HGS favored obesity and hypercholesterolemia. Thus, monitoring HGS is an important indicator of body, laboratory, and functional capacity changes, with HGS being an additional element in the clinical evaluation.