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Clinical nutrition, enteral and parenteral nutrition

Effect of inflammation on handgrip strength in the non-critically ill is independent from age, gender and body composition

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 68, pages 155–158 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

We investigated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) as indicator of acute inflammation is associated with maximal isometric handgrip strength in non-critically ill patients.

Subjects/Methods:

Handgrip strength was measured with Jamar dynamometer in 620 hospitalized patients (56.4±15.9 years old, 52.3% men). CRP was measured with immunoturbidimetric assay. Fat free mass (FFM) was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. A general linear model regression analysis corrected for confounding variables such as age, sex, FFM, body mass index, comorbidity count and diagnosis category (malignant/benign disease) was performed to test the association between elevated levels of CRP and handgrip strength.

Results:

CRP was an independent predictor of grip strength (CRP: β-coefficient: −0.169, P=0.018) even after adjustment for relevant confounders. All groups with inflammation showed significant reduction in handgrip strength, corresponding to a loss of ∼1.6 kg in mild inflammation, 3.2 kg in moderate inflammation and 2.9 kg in severe inflammation compared with patients without inflammation.

Discussion:

Our data demonstrate the independent association between inflammation and handgrip strength in non-critically ill patients. If not corrected, reduced strength may have implications for the patients’ functional status and prognosis. Increasing physical activity and resistance training during convalescence are recommended.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité—University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    K Norman, N Stobäus, K Kulka & J Schulzke

  2. Charité Research Group on Geriatrics, Charite University Medicine, Berlin, Germany

    K Norman

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  1. K Norman
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  2. N Stobäus
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Correspondence to K Norman.

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Norman, K., Stobäus, N., Kulka, K. et al. Effect of inflammation on handgrip strength in the non-critically ill is independent from age, gender and body composition. Eur J Clin Nutr 68, 155–158 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.261

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