Acquired weakness, handgrip strength, and mortality in critically ill patients.
BACKGROUND
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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).
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Ohio State University, 473 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221, USA. Naeem.ali@osumc.edu
Naeem A
NA
Ali
James M
JM
O'Brien
Stephen P
SP
Hoffmann
Gary
G
Phillips
Allan
A
Garland
James C W
JC
Finley
Khalid
K
Almoosa
Rana
R
Hejal
Karen M
KM
Wolf
Stanley
S
Lemeshow
Alfred F
AF
Connors
Clay B
CB
Marsh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*