Assessing the Causal Role of Walking Pace and Hand Grip Strength with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Hospital: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) hospitalization heightens risks for patients, including mortality, reduced quality of life, and financial strain. Walking pace (WP) and hand grip strength (HGS) are key indicators, their direct connection to COPD hospitalization is uncertain.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between genetic determinants of walking pace, hand grip strength, and the risk of COPD hospitalization as well as lung function.

Methods: The data pertaining to WP (n = 459,915), HGS (n = 922,115), COPD hospitalizations (n = 309,154), and lung function (n = 79,055) were procured from comprehensive large-scale genome-wide association studies. In carrying out the causal inference analysis, robust statistical methods were utilized, encompassing inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, simple median and Weighted mode. To address issues of heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and outliers, we incorporated sensitivity analyses and Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques.

Results: The IVW analysis suggests that a faster WP reduces the risk of COPD hospitalization (OR = 0.3559, 95% CI: 0.22-0.52; p = 5.197 × 10^-5). It also reveals a potential association between gait speed and the likelihood of developing early-onset COPD (OR = 0.189, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.39; p = 8.89 × 10-6) as well as late-onset COPD (OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.76; p = 0.0036). The IVW analysis further indicates a potential correlation between an increased WP and enhanced peak expiratory flow (PEF) (OR = 1.699, 95% CI: 1.23 to 2.35; p = 0.0014), forced expiratory volume in 1 s(FEV1, OR = 1.557, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.95; p = 0.0001), and forced vital capacity(FVC, OR = 1.584, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.99; p = 8.89 × 10-5). The IVW analysis suggests a possible causal link between stronger left-hand grip strength and elevated levels of FVC (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.46; p = 1.68 × 10-5), FEV1 (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.39; p = 1.63 × 10-4), and PEF (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.36; p = 2.67 × 10-3). Similarly, right-hand grip strength exhibits a comparable causal relationship with FVC and PEF as left-hand grip strength.

Conclusions: Our research shows a link between slower walking pace and higher COPD hospitalization risk, as well as decreased lung function (PEF, FEV1, FVC). We also found a significant correlation between weaker hand grip and reduced lung function, especially FVC. These findings have the potential to improve risk assessment approaches, intervention strategies, and management methods for COPD patients, while simultaneously enhancing their overall quality of life and health status.