Background: To evaluate age- and sex-specific differences in the distribution of cardiometabolic diseases and associations of hand-grip strength (HGS) indices with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: This cross-sectional observational study enrolled participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 16,126, age ≥19 years). Information on cardiometabolic diseases was obtained through surveys or proper criteria applied for undiagnosed participants. Absolute and body size-adjusted HGS indices were evaluated. Clinical manifestations were compared, and associations of HGS indices with T2D were estimated by using odd ratio (OR). Results: Prevalence of T2D in all, younger, and older groups were 13.1%, 4.2%, and 21.4%, respectively. Proportions of cardiometabolic diseases were all higher in those with than without T2D in sex-stratified age groups, whereas obesity (OB) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were higher in younger T2D, and hypertension (HTN) was higher in older T2D in both sexes. Adjusted HGS significantly correlated with cardiometabolic parameters, and thus, high ORs for T2D in low tertiles of adjusted HGS were shown in all groups, whereas high ORs for T2D in low tertiles of absolute HGS were observed only in older men. Conclusions: Among highly prevalent cardiometabolic diseases associated with T2D, OB and NAFLD were more prevalent in younger T2D, but HTN was more prevalent in older T2D in both sexes. Low adjusted HGS was associated with higher T2D risk in all groups, whereas low absolute HGS was associated with higher T2D risk in older men. Thus, adjusted HGS might be useful in screening especially younger or obese T2D.
Keywords: cardiometabolic disease; hand-grip strength; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; obesity; type 2 diabetes.