Feasibility of systematic handgrip strength testing in digestive cancer patients treated with chemotherapy: The FIGHTDIGO study

Abstract

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a widely studied noninvasive test. Weak strength (dynapenia) seems to be associated with high morbidity and mortality in different populations, notably oncology populations. Despite this, HGS testing is not used in daily practice in oncology. The study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of HGS testing in patients with digestive cancer treated with ambulatory chemotherapy.

Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, enrolled patients were followed for 6 months. Two consecutive bilateral measures were performed with a Jamar dynamometer during each patient's appointments in the unit for intravenous treatment. A questionnaire was completed by patients and medical team members.

Results: There were 203 consecutive patients, and 201 were recruited. In all, 1704 of 1716 measurements (99.3%) were performed, and 201 patients (99.0%) performed at least 1 measure; 190 (94.5%) performed all expected measures. One hundred sixty-four of 171 participating patients (95.9%) found the test easy to perform, and 167 (97.7%) did not find the test restrictive. All of the 14 medical team members found the test easy to perform, unrestrictive, and undisruptive in their daily practice.

Conclusions: HGS testing is routinely feasible, inexpensive, and well accepted by patients and medical teams in an ambulatory digestive cancer unit. Cancer 2018;124:1501-6. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Keywords: chemotherapy; digestive system neoplasms; dynapenia; feasibility study; muscle strength dynamometer; sarcopenia.