A Step Forward in the Assessment of Handgrip Strength in Heart Failure

Significance of Handgrip Strength in HF

HGS is a simple, non-invasive measure of muscle strength, correlating with physical condition and considered a prognostic marker in HF.^, A systematic review of 7,350 HF patients revealed that a 1 kg reduction in HGS increases mortality risk by 8% (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05–1.11). Unlike complex measures, such as cardiopulmonary exercise testing, HGS is low-cost, accessible, and feasible in all clinical settings, making it a straightforward tool to assess frailty and guide rehabilitation.^, However, existing HGS reference equations are mainly derived from healthy populations, failing to account for HF-specific factors, such as reduced cardiac output (CO) and muscle atrophy, leading to inaccurate conclusions. The manuscript’s development of an HF-specific HGS equation represents a timely advance.

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