BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterised by motor symptoms. Extensive physical activity has been implicated in the aetiology of ALS. Differences in anthropometrics, physical fitness and isometric strength measured at 18-19 years were assessed to determine if they are associated with subsequent death in ALS. METHOD: Data on body weight and height, physical fitness, resting heart rate and isometric strength measured at conscription were linked with data on death certificates in men born in 1951-1965 in Sweden (n=809 789). Physical fitness was assessed as a maximal test on an electrically braked bicycle ergometer. Muscle strength was measured as the maximal isometric strength in handgrip, elbow flexion and knee extension in standardised positions, using a dynamometer. Analyses were based on 684 459 (84.5%) men because of missing data. A matched case control study within this sample was performed. The population was followed until 31 December 2006, and 85 men died from ALS during this period. RESULTS: Weight adjusted physical fitness (W/kg), but not physical fitness per se, was a risk factor for ALS (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.97), whereas resting pulse rate, muscle strength and other variables were not. CONCLUSIONS: Physical fitness, but not muscle strength, is a risk factor for death at early age in ALS. This may indicate that a common factor underlies both fitness (W/kg) and risk of ALS.
BACKGROUND:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterised by motor symptoms. Extensive physical activity has been implicated in the aetiology of ALS. Differences in anthropometrics, physical fitness and isometric strength measured at 18-19 years were assessed to determine if they are associated with subsequent death in ALS. METHOD: Data on body weight and height, physical fitness, resting heart rate and isometric strength measured at conscription were linked with data on death certificates in men born in 1951-1965 in Sweden (n=809 789). Physical fitness was assessed as a maximal test on an electrically braked bicycle ergometer. Muscle strength was measured as the maximal isometric strength in handgrip, elbow flexion and knee extension in standardised positions, using a dynamometer. Analyses were based on 684 459 (84.5%) men because of missing data. A matched case control study within this sample was performed. The population was followed until 31 December 2006, and 85 men died from ALS during this period. RESULTS: Weight adjusted physical fitness (W/kg), but not physical fitness per se, was a risk factor for ALS (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.97), whereas resting pulse rate, muscle strength and other variables were not. CONCLUSIONS: Physical fitness, but not muscle strength, is a risk factor for death at early age in ALS. This may indicate that a common factor underlies both fitness (W/kg) and risk of ALS.
Authors: Bello Hamidou; Philippe Couratier; Cyril Besançon; Marie Nicol; Pierre Marie Preux; Benoit Marin Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2014-07-02 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Lydia Coulter Kwee; Yutao Liu; Carol Haynes; Jason R Gibson; Annjanette Stone; Steven A Schichman; Freya Kamel; Lorene M Nelson; Barbara Topol; Stephen K Van den Eeden; Caroline M Tanner; Merit E Cudkowicz; Daniela L Grasso; Robert Lawson; Sumitra Muralidhar; Eugene Z Oddone; Silke Schmidt; Michael A Hauser Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-03-28 Impact factor: 3.240