Hand strength as a predictor of prolonged hospital stay days in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: Hand strength is an indicator of muscle functionality especially in the elderly. Different studies have shown to be a predictor of mortality and hospital stay. However, the association between muscle strenght and prolonged hospital stay in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is still unknown. Objective: To determine if decreased hand muscle strength is a risk factor for prolonged hospital stay in patients with COPD. Methods: Prospective study that included hospitalized patients over 18 years old with confirmed diagnosis of COPD. Prolonged hospital stay was defined as being hospitalized over 14 days. Hand muscle strength was determined by using a dynamometer. A complete logistic regression was made to determine the risk of hospital stay according to hand strength. Results: The age of the population was 57.89 ± 20.7 years. Subjects with hospital stay had a higher prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (20% vs 4.5%, p = 0.063), of which, those aged 72.52 ± 14.38 had a strength lower than 17. These patients had 8 times the risk of prolonged stay over 12 days (OR: 8.72, CI 95%, 1.03 - 73.48, p = 0.046), adjusted for age, COPD and CVD. Conclusion: Muscle strenght reduction increases the risk of prolonged hospital stay in patients with COPD.