Key result
Higher handgrip strength is linked to better left atrial conduit strain in older adults.
Why the study?
To determine the associations between handgrip strength and appendicular lean mass with left atrial phasic function and left atrioventricular coupling using cardiac magnetic resonance.
Cross-Sectional (n=255)
Effect estimate: β = 0.15 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.23)
p-value: p=0.001
In older adults without cardiovascular disease, lower skeletal muscle fitness is associated with impaired left atrial conduit function and altered atrioventricular coupling, suggesting a cardio-skeletal muscle axis in early subclinical cardiac remodeling.
Handgrip strength may reflect atrial function in older adults without CVD; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
To determine the associations between handgrip strength (HGS) and appendicular lean mass (ALM) with left atrial (LA) phasic function and LA-left ventricular (LV) coupling using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). A total of 255 community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 71 ± 9.1 years, female 44.7%) without cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) underwent assessments of HGS by hand dynamometer, height-square adjusted ALM measured by bio-impedance, and LA phasic function (namely reservoir, conduit, booster strain) by CMR feature tracking alongside LA and LV volumetric parameters. Left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) was defined as the ratio of LA end-diastolic volume (EDV) to LV EDV. Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between HGS/ALM and CMR-derived parameters, as well as LACI. HGS was significantly associated with LA conduit strain (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.23, p = 0.001) and LA conduit strain rate (β = −0.019, 95% CI −0.029 to −0.008, p = 0.001), while ALM was significantly associated with LV stroke volume index (SVI) (β = 0.75, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.15, p < 0.001). Among the participants, 59% had elevated LACI (defined as >0.25). Participants with elevated LACI ( > 0.25) had lower HGS (mean=22.8 ± 7.1 kg vs 26.1 ± 6.4 kg, p < 0.001) and ALM (16.4 ± 4.2 kg/m2 vs 17.7 ± 3.8 kg/m2, p = 0.01), and these associations persisted after adjusting for age (HGS: β = −0.065, 95% CI −0.1040 to −0.0255, p = 0.001; ALM: β = −0.0776, 95% CI −0.1444 to −0.0107, p = 0.01). In older adults without CVD, muscle function was associated with impaired LA phasic function, lower LV SVI, and elevated LACI, suggesting a link between skeletal muscle health and early subclinical cardiac remodelling during ageing. These findings highlight a potential cardio–skeletal muscle axis that warrants further investigation in longitudinal studies.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Xie et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in None (community-dwelling older adults without cardiovascular disease) (n=255). Handgrip strength and appendicular lean mass was evaluated on Association between handgrip strength and left atrial conduit strain (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.23, p=0.001). In older adults without cardiovascular disease, higher handgrip strength was significantly associated with better left atrial conduit strain (β = 0.15), linking muscle health to cardiac function.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: