J Assoc Physicians India. 2025 Dec;73(12):40-43. doi: 10.59556/japi.73.1263.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a frequent and prognostically significant complication of liver cirrhosis. Hand grip strength (HGS) has emerged as a simple, noninvasive tool for assessing muscle function, yet limited data exist on its utility in Indian cirrhotic populations.
AIM: To evaluate the association of HGS with established prognostic scores and biochemical parameters in Indian patients with cirrhosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, 100 adult cirrhotic patients were assessed between August 2022 and December 2023. HGS was measured using a validated hand-held dynamometer. Correlations between HGS and clinical scores of severity of cirrhosis [Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD)] and biochemical markers were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.
RESULTS: Mean patient age was 59.2 ± 8.46 years; 85% were male. The most common etiologies were alcohol (46%) and viral hepatitis (26%). HGS declined significantly with increasing liver disease severity: CTP A (34.0 ± 1.48 kg), B (21.63 ± 1.07 kg), and C (13.5 ± 2.87 kg) (p < 0.0001). HGS was inversely correlated with MELD score (r = -0.820) and showed strong positive correlations with serum albumin (r = +0.872) and hemoglobin (r = +0.59). Age, international normalized ratio (INR), and bilirubin were negatively correlated with HGS.
CONCLUSION: HGS is strongly associated with liver disease severity and key biochemical indicators. As a bedside, radiation-free tool, it offers a practical method for assessing sarcopenia in cirrhosis, especially in resource-limited settings.
PMID:41391080 | DOI:10.59556/japi.73.1263
