Heart failure & cardiomyopathies
Weak Grip Strength Predicts Higher Unplanned Healthcare Utilization Among Patients with Heart Failure
Authors' conclusion
GS is a simple tool to identify and monitor heart failure patients at risk of unplanned events, longer inpatient stays, and higher related healthcare costs.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with advanced HF (NYHA class III or IV), Singapore, July 2017–April 201922.5% weak grip strength (GS) at baseline
- Participants
- 251 patients
- Exposure
- Weak GS vs not weak GS
- Outcome
- Healthcare utilization (unplanned and planned events and healthcare costs, total costs, length of inpatient stay)
- Follow-up
- Next 2 years (baseline GS); ensuing 4 months (longitudinal GS)
Methodological detailsMixed-effects logistic and two-part regression models, GS measured at baseline and every 4 months for 2 years; survey data linked with medical and billing records
- Mixed-effects logistic and two-part regression models
- GS measured at baseline and every 4 months for 2 years; survey data linked with medical and billing records
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Unplanned events, inpatient stay and unplanned costs with weak GS · next 4 months
Weak GSDifference, days (95% CI)P value
Length of inpatient stay
4(1.97–6.79)
P = 0.003Weak GSDifference, SG$ (95% CI)P value
Unplanned healthcare costs (US$ ≈3594)
4792(1894–7689)
P = 0.014- Odds of unplanned event
- difference 8 percentage points (95% CI 0.01–0.14); P = 0.026
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Weak Grip Strength Predicts Higher Unplanned Healthcare Utilization Among Patients with Heart Failure. ESC Heart Fail. Published 21 November 2023. doi:10.
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