Hand grip strength and early mortality after hip fracture

Abstract

This research describes the risk of death in elderly after hip fracture according to their strength, measured by hand grip. The result is that the weaker the patient, the greater the risk of death after hip fracture, highlighting the need to assess the force in those patients. For the coming years, most of hip fractures will occur in developing countries. It has been described that low muscular strength, measured by grip strength, increases the risk of mortality in those with hip fracture, in both high-and low- income countries. The objective of this study was to determine the mortality among patients with hip fracture and lower hand grip strength (HGS).

Material and methods: We conducted a cohort and longitudinal study at Hip and Pelvic Surgery Department of a tertiary hospital, in Monterrey, Mexico. The study included patients aged over of 69, admitted for hip fracture surgery from February 1st 2013 to July 31st 2014. HGS measurement was performed by a trained physician at arrival to emergency department prior to surgery; clinimetric variables were asked, and a complete medical history was included.

Results: A total of 670 patients were included in the study and grouped in different tertiles according to hand grip strength. During follow-up, there were 112 deaths (17.4%), 61 (27.5%) in tertile 1, 37 (17.1%) in tertile 2, and 14 (6.8%) in tertile 3, p < 0.001. The association remained significant after adjusting for confounding variables. Less than 5% of patients discharged from hospital were identified with osteoporosis.

Conclusion: Lower hand grip strength in patients with a hip fracture is associated with high mortality after hip fracture.

Keywords: Elderly; Hand grip strength; Hip fracture; Mortality; Osteoporosis.