Journal Article

Acquired Weakness, Handgrip Strength, and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients

Ali, Naeem A, Marsh, Clay B, O'Brien, James M., Jr, Hoffmann, Stephen P, Wolf, Karen M, Phillips, Gary, Almoosa, Khalid, for The Midwest Critical Care Consortium, Garland, Allan, Connors, Alfred F., Jr, Lemeshow, Stanley, Hejal, Rana, Finley, James C. W

2008

Overview

ICU-acquired paresis (ICUAP) is common in survivors of critical illness. There is significant associated morbidity, including prolonged time on the ventilator and longer hospital stay. However, it is unclear whether ICUAP is independently associated with mortality, as sicker patients are more prone and existing studies have not adjusted for this. To test the hypothesis that ICUAP is independently associated with increased mortality. Secondarily, to determine if handgrip dynamometry is a concise measure of global strength and is independently associated with mortality. A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in intensive care units (ICU) of five academic medical centers. Adults requiring at least 5 days of mechanical ventilation without evidence of preexisting neuromuscular disease were followed until awakening and were then examined for strength. We measured global strength and handgrip dynamometry. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes were hospital and ICU-free days, ICU readmission, and recurrent respiratory failure. Subjects with ICUAP (average MRC score of < 4) had longer hospital stays and required mechanical ventilation longer. Handgrip strength was lower in subjects with ICUAP and had good test performance for diagnosing ICUAP. After adjustment for severity of illness, ICUAP was independently associated with hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 7.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-25.3; P = 0.001). Separately, handgrip strength was independently associated with hospital mortality (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.5-13.6; P = 0.007). ICUAP is independently associated with increased hospital mortality. Handgrip strength is also independently associated with poor hospital outcome and may serve as a simple test to identify ICUAP. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00106665).

• Publisher: Am Thoracic Soc,American Thoracic Society
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Cohort analysis / Critical Illness - mortality / Failure / Female / Hand Strength / Hospital Mortality / Hospitals / Humans / Hypotheses / Illnesses / Indiana - epidemiology / Intensive care / Intensive Care Units / Male / Medical research / Middle Aged / Mortality / Muscle strength / Muscle Weakness - diagnosis / Muscle Weakness - etiology / Muscle Weakness - mortality / Neuromuscular diseases / Ohio - epidemiology / Paresis / Paresis - diagnosis / Paresis - etiology / Paresis - mortality / Polyneuropathies - diagnosis / Polyneuropathies - mortality / Predictive Value of Tests / Prospective Studies / Respiration, Artificial - adverse effects / Ventilators