Associations between muscular strength and gastroesophageal reflux disease in older adults

Background: The association between muscular strength (MS) and prevalent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the older adults is not well established. Methods: This study included 542 older adults with no history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cancer. MS was measured by handgrip dynamometry. Participants were categorized into sex-specific quartiles of MS, while cases of GERD were identified by self-reported physician diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of GERD by quartiles of MS. Results: There were 112 GERD cases. Compared with the first quartile of MS, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of GERD were 0.50 (0.27-0.95), 0.39 (0.20-0.75), and 0.55 (0.29-1.04) in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of MS, respectively, after adjusting for possible confounders including body mass index. In a joint analysis of MS and body mass index, participants were dichotomized into weak (first MS quartile) or strong (upper 3 MS quartiles) and normal weight, overweight, or obese. Compared with the weak-obese group, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.34 (0.14-0.80), 0.43 (0.16-1.13), 0.29 (0.12-0.68), 0.18 (0.06-0.55), and 0.07 (0.03-0.21) for the strong-obese, weak-overweight, strong-overweight, weak-normal weight, and strong-normal weight. Conclusions: MS was independently and inversely associated with GERD in older adults.