Phase Angle Is Associated With Handgrip Strength in Older Patients With Heart Failure

To assess the relationships between phase angle and muscle mass, strength, and physical function in patients with heart failure.

This study used a cross-sectional design. The analysis included 51 patients with heart failure. The Short Physical Performance Battery, one-leg standing time, handgrip strength, phase angle, and skeletal muscle index were measured. To identify explanatory variables of phase angle, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed.

Handgrip strength was found to be an explanatory variable of phase angle independent of age, sex, and body mass index. This model was able to explain 30.4% of the model variance for phase angle.

In patients with heart failure, improving muscle strength rather than muscle mass or physical function might be more important for improving phase angle. Handgrip strength is an important outcome for improving prognosis in patients with heart failure.