Handgrip strength during admission for COPD exacerbation: impact on further exacerbation risk

Abstract Background Low handgrip strength (HGS) is independently associated with a higher exacerbation risk in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, the relationship between HGS while being admitted for COPD and further after discharge remains unclear. Methods We enrolled patients January 2018 June 2019. tests were done within 3 days admission. The primary endpoint was exacerbations 12 months index admission, which needed emergency room visits or hospital analyzed relationships among demographics, HGS, function parameters, acute events. Results Among 43 patients, 31 (72.1%) participants (HGSw) had weakness (22.1 ± 4.1 kg). other (27.9%) (non-HGSw) of handgrips 33.7 3.1 kg. HGSw group showed significantly rate 6, 9, admission than non-HGSw (0.81 1.30 vs. 0.08 0.29, p = 0.045; 1.26 1.59 0.17 0.38, P 0.019; 1.48 1.86 0.25 0.62, 0.027, respectively). There trend to have 9 group, did not achieve statistical significance (0.77 1.38 0.064; 0.94 1.56 0.062, Conclusions measured upon next year. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04885933.