Reduced handgrip strength in relation to peripheral neuropathy and painful peripheral neuropathy in the Qatar Precision Health Cohort

AIMS: This study aimed to assess the association between handgrip strength (HGS) with peripheral neuropathy (PN) and painful peripheral neuropathy (pPN). METHODS: Participants from Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI) underwent clinical/metabolic assessments, including iDXA, HGS measurement, corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), vibration perception threshold (VPT), and DN4 questionnaire. RESULTS: ) with obesity (41.1%) and diabetes (14.4%) were included. PN was diagnosed in 15 (2.4%) and the prevalence of PN was higher in those with diabetes (6.8% vs 1.7%, P = 0.004) but not in those with obesity (3.6% vs 2.5%, P = 0.492). There was no association between PN and HGS (P = 0.827). Painful PN was diagnosed in 22 (3.6%), higher in females compared to males (6.3% vs 1.4%, P = 0.001) and in those with diabetes (8.0% vs 2.9%, P = 0.018) and obesity (5.1% vs 1.8%, P = 0.041). PPN was associated with HGS (7.1% weak, 3.5% normal, 0.0% strong, P = 0.026). HGS was independently associated with lower DN4 score (β = -0.012, P = 0.027), but not VPT (P = 0.061) or CCM measures (all P ≥ 0.097), after adjustment for age, sex, HbA1c, diabetes duration, inflammatory, hematological, hormonal, and body composition variables. In exploratory analyses with HGS as the dependent variable, DN4 score (β = -1.235, P = 0.019), but not VPT (P = 0.061), was associated with lower HGS. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced HGS is associated with a greater burden of neuropathic symptoms and painful PN. These findings provide rationale for prospective studies testing whether muscle strength-preserving interventions attenuate neuropathic pain or vice versa in individuals with diabetes.