Relationship between grip strength, functional outcome, and health-related quality of life measurements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

AIM: To explore how grip strength is related to functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. METHODS: In the phase 2 trial of TBN for treatment of ALS, 148 patients in full analysis set received TBN (600 mg or 1200 mg) or a placebo for 180 days. Outcome measurements included ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), 40-item ALS Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40), grip strength, and forced vital capacity (FVC). Spearman's rank correlation was used to examine associations between grip strength, ALSFRS-R and ALSAQ-40. A principal component analysis-ANCOVA model adjusted for sex was used to further explore the associations. Grip strength was a strong predictor of ALSFRS-R fine motor and ALSAQ-40 ADL domains. CONCLUSION: Grip strength was associated with functional status and HRQoL, supporting its potential role as a meaningful clinical outcome measure in patients with ALS.