2106-P: Waist-to-Height Ratio Is Negatively Associated with Muscle Strength in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes

Introduction and Objective: Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at risk for early cardiometabolic dysfunction, yet practical clinical markers of physical fitness remain limited. We examined the association between relative muscle strength and central adiposity in youth with T1D. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of youth with T1D (n=35). Handgrip strength was measured using a Jamar Smart Hand Dynamometer (three trials averaged) and normalized to body weight (kg/kg). Central adiposity was assessed using waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Associations were evaluated using Pearson correlations and sex-adjusted linear regression. Results: Subjects were 18±2.3 years old, with diabetes duration of 8.6±4.7 years and BMI of 26±5.9 kg/m²; 69% male. Normalized handgrip strength was 0.51±0.16 kg/kg. Grip strength was negatively associated with WHtR (r=−0.65, p<0.001). After adjustment for age and sex, WHtR remained independently associated with normalized handgrip strength (β=−1.55, p<0.001). No associations were observed between grip strength and LDL-C, non-HDL-C, HbA1c, or CGM-derived metrics (p>0.05 for all). Results were similar when BMI replaced WHtR, whereas waist-to-hip ratio showed no association. Conclusion: In youth with T1D, central adiposity is independently associated with lower muscle strength, whereas traditional risk markers show no association. Simple functional measures may capture cardiometabolic risk not reflected by conventional metrics. Disclosure E. Tas: None. E. Gade: None. B. Moore: None. M. Tamilia: None. R. Muzumdar: None. A. Sekikawa: None. I. Libman: None. Funding Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation