Handgrip strength and the prognosis of patients with heart failure: A meta-analysis

Reduced muscular strength is common in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and prognosis of patients with HF.

Reduced HGS may be a risk factor of poor prognosis of patients with HF.

Relevant observational studies with longitudinal follow-up were obtained by a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. A random-effects model was used to pool the results.

Fifteen studies involving 7350 patients with HF were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that HF patients with lower HGS were associated with a higher risk of mortality during follow-up (risk ratio [RR]: 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55-2.58, p < .001; I²  = 0%). Subgroup analysis showed that the association was not significantly affected by characteristics such as study country, design, mean age of the patients, HF status (stable or advanced/acute), HF type (reduced or preserved ejection fraction), follow-up duration, and quality score (p for subgroup difference all > 0.05). Further analysis showed that per 1 kgf decrease of HGS was associated with an 8% increased risk of mortality during follow-up (RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.05-1.11, p < .001; I²  = 12%). Moreover, HF patients with lower HGS were also related to a higher risk of composite outcome of HF rehospitalization or mortality (RR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.19-2.35, p = .003; I²  = 53%).

A low HGS may be associated with poor clinical outcomes of patients with HF.