Hepatology Research · Mar 5, 2025
Grip strength is a strong indicator of osteoporosis in both women and men with chronic liver disease
By Ichikawa T, Miuma S, Yamashima M et al.
AIM: Osteoporosis (Op) and sarcopenia are common complications of chronic liver disease. We sought to identify clinical screening indicators for Op, and evaluated their relationship with bone and muscle. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated 495 patients (264 women) with chronic liver disease who underwent a bone mineral density evaluation at their first outpatient visit. Bone mineral density was measured in the lumbar spine (mean of L2-L4) and femoral neck using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The relationship between Op and various clinical factors was examined. RESULTS: Op was diagnosed in 156 patients (31.5%). Sex, age, steatotic liver disease, fibrosis-4 index, body mass index, and grip strength (GS) were associated with Op. In logistic multivariate analysis, Op was associated with older age (>68 years in women and >69 years in men), low body mass index (<20), and low GS (<18 kg in women and <28 kg in men). Factors associated with Op were analyzed in 254 patients whose body composition was evaluated. Op was associated with older age, low GS, and low skeletal muscle (<86 cm²) in women, and only low skeletal muscle (<116 cm²) in men. Combined Op and sarcopenia was observed in 19.6% of patients. Sarcopenia was associated with Op in both sexes. The number of patients with a low GS increased with age in both sexes. However, the number of patients with low bone mineral density increased with age in women, but not in men. CONCLUSION: Low GS is an indicator of Op in both sexes. Overlooked Op in chronic liver disease should be screened using GS.