High grip strength attenuates risk of severe COVID-19 in males but not females with obesity: A short communication of prospective findings from UK Biobank

Obes Res Clin Pract. 2023 Jan-Feb;17(1):82-85. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.01.001. Epub 2023 Jan 10.

Abstract

We examined the joint associations of BMI category and grip strength tertile with risk of severe COVID-19 (inpatient COVID-19 or COVID-19 mortality) in 327 500 UK Biobank participants. Compared to normal-weight males with high grip strength, the odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) for males with obesity with low grip strength was 2.39 (1.59-3.60), but 1.52 (0.98-2.35) for males with obesity with a high grip strength. A higher grip strength did not appear to be associated with lower risk of severe COVID-19 in females. Muscle mass and strength development should be considered as a means to reduce risk of severe COVID-19 for males with obesity.

Keywords: COVID-19; Epidemiology; Muscle mass; Muscle strength; Obesity; Public health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Specimen Banks*
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Hand Strength / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / complications
  • Prospective Studies
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology