Preliminary report: Reduced hand sensory and motor function in persons living with heart failure

Despite the growing evidence highlighting reduced functional independence in persons living with heart failure (PwHF), the underlying mechanisms that lead to reduced functional independence in this patient population are unknown. Given the association between functional independence and fine motor skills, which are functionally related to hand sensory and motor functions, we hypothesized that PwHF exhibit reduced sensory and motor function of hands compared to healthy individuals. We recruited a total of 10 PwHF (age: 57.6 ± 12.5 years old, four females) and a total of age- & sex-matched healthy control individuals (age: 58.2 ± 12.2 years old, four females). Participants performed a wide range of tests assessing the level of independence, fitness, cognitive function, and hand sensorimotor function. While the level of independence was comparable between two groups, PwHF exhibited reduced sensory and motor function. Compared to healthy participants, the ability to identify an object via tactile and proprioceptive inputs was reduced in PwHF, though the tactile mechanoreceptor function showed normal integrity. Similarly, PwHF exhibited a decline in manipulating small objects and steady grip force production. Heart failure seems to have repercussions that extend to the sensorimotor control of hand actions in advance to a decline in functional independence. These results underscore the need of further investigation as to the underlying mechanisms of reduced sensorimotor function, potential intervention targets, and determine whether assessments of hand sensorimotor function can serve as a vehicle to quantify restoration of self-care functionality.