This study aimed to identify the independent association of handgrip strength and current smoking with cardiometabolic risk in adolescents. Data of 1806 adolescents (12-18 years) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed by complex samples logistic regression analyses. Handgrip strength was normalized by body weight into relative handgrip strength. A cardiometabolic risk index score was calculated from the z-scores of the following components: waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure. Relative handgrip strength showed an inverse association with high cardiometabolic risk, with an adjusted odds ratio of 8.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7-19.3) for boys and 5.7 (95% CI, 2.9-11.2) for girls on comparing the lowest and the highest age-and sex-specific quartiles of relative handgrip strength. The adjusted odds ratios for high cardiometabolic risk on comparing the second quartile and the highest quartile of relative handgrip strength were 3.9 (95% CI, 1.7-8.9) in boys and 2.6 (95% CI, 1.3-5.3) in girls. Current smoking was independently associated with high cardiometabolic risk in boys aged 15-18 years. These findings suggest the need to increase muscle strength in adolescents and reduce smoking in older boys to promote cardiometabolic health.
Keywords: adolescent; cardiovascular diseases; metabolic syndrome; muscle strength; smoking.