Decreased handgrip strength can predict lung function impairment in male workers: a cross sectional study

Background Spirometry is useful for evaluating respiratory health status and predicting health-related outcomes. As spirometry requires skilled technician and takes time, it is useful to find simple way for predicting lung function impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate which tests could predict lung function impairment among workers. Methods This prospective study included workers of manufacturing industry who underwent health check-ups in 2017. Subjects underwent the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT), spirometry, and physical fitness assessments, including handgrip strength (HGS). Lung function impairment was defined as a decline in any of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), or a FEV1/FVC ratio less than the lower limit of normal (LLN). Results Complete data on 475 workers (366 men, 50.4% ever smokers) were available. Lung function impairment was observed in 99 subjects (64 men). Men with lung function impairment had significantly higher rate of ever-smoking, passive smoking at home in childhood, high CAT scores, and decreased HGS, compared with those without. On multivariate analyses, ever-smoking (odds ratio [OR], 2.50; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.25-4.97), passive smoking at home in childhood (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.16-6.32), CAT scores (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.12), and HGS (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57-0.92) were independently associated with lung function impairment in men. Conclusions Ever-smoking, passive smoking at home in childhood, high CAT scores, and decreased HGS are significantly associated with lung function impairment in men.