title: Handgrip strength predicts pressure ulcers in patients with hip fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pressure ulcer (PU) is a frequent complication of hip fracture. Studies were carried out to identify the risk factors of PU development after hip fractures. The objective of the study was to determine the role of anthropometric measurements and handgrip strength as predictors of PUs in patients with hip fractures during their hospital stay and 30 d after discharge, which has not yet been established.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two consecutive patients with hip fractures who were older than 65 y old and admitted to an orthopedic unit were prospectively evaluated. Within the first 72 h of admission, each patient's characteristics were recorded, anthropometric measurements were taken (circumferences of the arm, waist, thigh, calf, triceps, and biceps and subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds), handgrip strength was measured, and blood samples were collected. PU evaluations were performed during the hospital stay and 30 d after hospital discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients were excluded because of PUs before hospitalization. Eighty-nine patients (average age 80.6 ± 7.5 y) were studied; 70.8% were women, and 49.4% developed PUs during their hospital stay. In a univariate analysis, length of hospital stay (P = 0.001) and handgrip strength (P = 0.02), but not body circumferences and skinfolds, were associated with PUs during a hospital stay. Only handgrip strength (P = 0.007) was associated with PUs 30 d after hospital discharge. In a multivariate analysis, only handgrip strength was found to predict PU development at these points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Handgrip strength was found to predict PU development in patients with hip fractures during their hospital stay and 30 d after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Surgery and Orthopedic Department, Botucatu Medical School, Universidad Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Gumieiro
authors.forename: Bruna P M
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Rafacho
authors.forename: Luciana M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gradella
authors.forename: Paula S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaspardo
authors.forename: Leonardo A M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zornoff
authors.forename: Gilberto J C
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Sergio A R
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Marcos F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Minicucci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D003668:Pressure Ulcer; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness