ABSTRACT
Objective:
To evaluate handgrip strength (HGS) as a diagnostic tool for frailty risk in elderly patients with asthma, as well as to investigate the prevalence of frailty in this population.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study including 96 patients ≥ 60 years of age diagnosed with moderate to severe asthma and treated at a tertiary referral center in Brazil. We measured HGS using a calibrated hydraulic hand dynamometer. We used a frailty scale and the AUC to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the HGS test.
Results:
The median age of participants was 67 years. Most (78%) were women and non-White (91%) of low socioeconomic status. HGS identified those at risk for frailty, with an AUC of 71.6% (61.5-80.4%; p < 0.002), as well as a sensitivity of 73.58% and a specificity of 67.53%, on the basis of a cutoff of ≤ 19 kgf.
Conclusions:
HGS appears to be a simple, reliable tool for clinicians to determine frailty risk in older asthma patients in a point-of-care setting.
Keywords:
Hand strength; Frailty; Asthma; Aged
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