Key result
An exercise capacity of ≥5 METs in male heart failure patients was equivalent to handgrip strength of 35.2 kgf, knee extensor strength of 1.70 Nm/kg, and knee flexor strength of 0.90 Nm/kg.
Why the study?
What are the upper and lower extremity muscle strength levels associated with an exercise capacity of ≥5 METs in male patients with heart failure?
Cross-Sectional (n=148)
What are the upper and lower extremity muscle strength levels associated with an exercise capacity of ≥5 METs in male patients with heart failure?
Specific muscle strength cutoffs (handgrip 35.2 kgf, knee extensor 1.70 Nm/kg, knee flexor 0.90 Nm/kg) can serve as target goals to achieve an exercise capacity of ≥5 METs in male heart failure patients.
These strength thresholds may inform rehab targets in male HF; hypothesis-generating pending prospective validation.
In Brief PURPOSE: Exercise capacity of fewer than 5 metabolic equivalents (METs) has been associated with high risk of death and poor physical functioning in male patients with heart failure (HF). Therefore, we aimed to determine upper and lower extremity muscle strength levels required to attain an exercise capacity of 5 or more METs in male outpatients with HF. METHODS: We enrolled 148 male HF patients (age 60.1 ± 1.0 years). Peak oxygen uptake (peak o2) was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX). After CPX, we further divided the patients into groups according to exercise capacity: 5 or more METs (group A, n = 85) and fewer than 5 METs (group B, n = 63). Handgrip strength and knee extensor and flexor muscle strengths were assessed as indices of upper and lower extremity muscle strength, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to select cutoff values for upper and lower extremity muscle strength resulting in an exercise capacity of 5 or more METs in these patients. RESULTS: Exercise capacity of 5 or more METs in male HF patients was equivalent to approximately 35.2 kgf of handgrip strength and 1.70 Nm/kg of knee extensor and 0.90 Nm/kg of knee flexor muscle strengths. CONCLUSIONS: These upper and lower extremity muscle strength values may be useful target goals for improvement of exercise capacity, risk management, and activities of daily living in male HF patients. We determined muscle strength associated with an exercise capacity of 5 or more metabolic equivalents (METs) in male outpatients with heart failure. Exercise capacity of 5 or more METs in these patients was equivalent to handgrip strength of 35.2 kgf and knee extensor and flexor muscle strengths of 1.70 Nm/kg and 0.90 Nm/kg, respectively.
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Izawa et al. (2012) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart failure (n=148). Upper and lower extremity muscle strength was evaluated on Cutoff values for muscle strength resulting in an exercise capacity of ≥5 METs. An exercise capacity of ≥5 METs in male heart failure patients was equivalent to handgrip strength of 35.2 kgf, knee extensor strength of 1.70 Nm/kg, and knee flexor strength of 0.90 Nm/kg.
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