Source: Annual Congress 2011 - Exacerbations and severe chronic respiratory disease: oxygen, rehabilitation, admission to hospital and palliative care
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Aims:
To measure hand grip strengths and investigate related factors in COPD patients engaged in pulmonary rehabilitation program during exacerbation.
Material and Methods:
Grip strengths of both hands were measured using vigorimetry in 52 COPD patients.
Results:
Mean hand grip strength were 0.41±0.14 bar. Patients were divided into two groups according to a cut-off point, 0.40 bar (54% ≤0.40, 46% >0.40), there was no significant difference in age, systemic diseases, FEV1/FVC, arterial blood gases between groups. Hand grip strengths were lower in women (p=0.003). In patients with lower strength, FEV1, FVC values (p=0.019 and p=0.002, respectively), hemoglobin levels, mini-nutritional scores and T scores at femoral neck were lower than that of patients with higher strength (p<0.05). The difference in 6 minute walk distance was not significant (p=0.087). However patients in the lower strength group had higher fatigue levels (p=0.039) and higher rest number during the walk test (p=0.032).
There was a moderate positive correlation between grip strength and 6-minute walk distance (r=0.511, p=0.001). There were negative correlations between strength and rest duration and number (r=-0.339, p=0.03 and r=-0,464, p=0.002), saturation changes (r=-0.383, p=0.012), dyspnea and fatigue levels (r=-0.475, p=0.001) during the walk test.
Conclusion:
Hand grip strengths of COPD patients in exacerbation showed good correlation with 6-minute walk test, indicator of functional capacity. Hand grip strength measurement which is simple to perform and has low cost may be a helpful indicator of muscle performance, especially when 6-minute walk test can not be performed during exacerbation.

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Citations should be made in the following way:
O. Ozyemisci-Taskiran, Z. Erden, N. Kokturk, G. Kaymak Karatas (Ankara, Turkey). Hand grip strength in patients engaged in pulmonary rehabilitation program during COPD exacerbation. Eur Respir J 2011; 38: Suppl. 55, 1247

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