Diabetes and physical function in the HANDLS study
Rice M, Waldstein SR, Evans MK, Zonderman AB. Diabetes and physical function in the HANDLS study. Paper presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America; 18-22 November 2009; Atlanta, GA. Gerontologist. 2009;49(suppl):475.
Diabetes has been shown to predict decreased lower extremity function in adults. However, little is known about the association between diabetes and upper extremity function. We examined the potential interactive relations of diabetes and age, poverty, and race to upper and lower extremity outcomes in 1405 community-dwelling adults [mean age = 48(9.41),43% male] derived from the baseline assessment of the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study. Exclusions were HIV/AIDS, neurological diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hand surgery, and arthritis. Participants performed lower extremity tests of side by side, semi-tandem, tandem, single leg stand, and number of repeated chairs tests, and upper extremity tests of right and left hand grip strength. Diabetes was defined by a fasting blood glucose sample (≥126) and self-reported history of diabetes diagnosis. Multiple regression analyses examined interactive relations of diabetes and age, poverty, and race to each physical function endpoint. Results revealed significant interactive relations of diabetes and race to right and left hand grip strength only (p’s < .05) such that African Americans with diabetes displayed greater grip strength. These findings contradict prior literature that has reported lesser grip strength among those with diabetes. However, African Americans have previously been shown to have greater average grip strength than Whites. Results may be further clarified by examination of possible higher order interactions of race and diabetes with other sociodemographic factors.
Rice M, Waldstein SR, Evans MK, Zonderman AB. Diabetes and physical function in the HANDLS study. Paper presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America; 18-22 November 2009; Atlanta, GA. Gerontologist. 2009;49(suppl):475.
Diabetes has been shown to predict decreased lower extremity function in adults. However, little is known about the association between diabetes and upper extremity function. We examined the potential interactive relations of diabetes and age, poverty, and race to upper and lower extremity outcomes in 1405 community-dwelling adults [mean age = 48(9.41),43% male] derived from the baseline assessment of the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study. Exclusions were HIV/AIDS, neurological diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hand surgery, and arthritis. Participants performed lower extremity tests of side by side, semi-tandem, tandem, single leg stand, and number of repeated chairs tests, and upper extremity tests of right and left hand grip strength. Diabetes was defined by a fasting blood glucose sample (≥126) and self-reported history of diabetes diagnosis. Multiple regression analyses examined interactive relations of diabetes and age, poverty, and race to each physical function endpoint. Results revealed significant interactive relations of diabetes and race to right and left hand grip strength only (p’s < .05) such that African Americans with diabetes displayed greater grip strength. These findings contradict prior literature that has reported lesser grip strength among those with diabetes. However, African Americans have previously been shown to have greater average grip strength than Whites. Results may be further clarified by examination of possible higher order interactions of race and diabetes with other sociodemographic factors.
