Handgrip strength as a predictor of bone mineral density in outpatients with cirrhosis

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 2016-01, Vol.31 (1), p.229-234
• Main Authors: Santos, Lívia Alves Amaral, Lima, Talles Bazeia, Augusti, Laís, Franzoni, Letícia de Campos, Yamashiro, Fabio da Silva, Bolfi, Fernanda, Nunes, Vânia dos Santos, Dorna, Mariana de Souza, de Oliveira, Cássio Vieira, Caramori, Carlos Antonio, Silva, Giovanni Faria, Romeiro, Fernando Gomes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Bone Density; Female; Femur Neck; Hand Strength - physiology; handgrip strength; Humans; liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Middle Aged; osteopenia; osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - diagnosis; Osteoporosis - etiology; Osteoporosis - physiopathology; Outpatients; Predictive Value of Tests
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13062

Background and Aim: Osteoporosis is well recognized as a cirrhosis complication; however, most studies assessing this condition included only patients on liver transplantation lists with an elevated rate of bone diseases. While general population studies show that handgrip strength is clearly associated with bone mineral density, until now this tool has not been applied to patients with cirrhosis in relation to their bone condition. This study aimed to evaluate whether handgrip strength, bone, and liver tests may be useful as predictors of bone disease in outpatients with cirrhosis. Methods: One hundred twenty‐nine subjects were included (77 men and 52 women). Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry was applied to evaluate lumbar‐spine and femoral‐neck T scores. Osteoporosis/osteopenia rates were 26.3%/35.6% in the lumbar spine and 6.9%/41.8% in the femoral neck, respectively. Model selections were based on backward procedures to find the best predictors of low T scores. Results: For lumbar spine, only low handgrip strength and high parathyroid hormone levels were clearly related to low T scores. For femoral neck, only age was associated with low T scores. Conclusions: Handgrip strength may serve as an effective predictor of low lumbar spine T score among outpatients with cirrhosis. As cirrhosis affects the lumbar spine more than the femoral neck, these results suggest that handgrip strength should be tested in all patients with cirrhosis as a first indicator of bone health. © 2015 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd