Handgrip Strength Predicts Difficult Weaning But Not Extubation Failure in Mechanically Ventilated Subjects

Background: Muscle weakness, defined by the Medical Research Council scale, has been associated with delay in mechanical ventilation weaning. In this study, we evaluated handgrip strength as a prediction tool in weaning outcome.

Methods: This was a 1-y prospective study in 2 ICUs in 2 university hospitals. Adult patients who were on mechanical ventilation for at least 48 h and eligible for mechanical ventilation weaning were screened for inclusion. Handgrip strength was evaluated using a handheld dynamometer before each spontaneous breathing trial (SBT). Attending physicians were unaware of handgrip strength and decided on extubation according to guidelines.

Results: Eighty-four subjects were included (median age 66 [53-79] y, with a median Simplified Acute Physiology Score II of 49 [37-63]). At the first evaluation, median handgrip strength was significantly associated with weaning outcome as defined by international guidelines: simple (20 [12-26] kg), difficult (12 [6-21] kg), or prolonged (6 [3-11] kg) weaning (P = .008). Time to liberation from mechanical ventilation and ICU stay were significantly longer for subjects classified as having muscle weakness according to the handgrip strength-derived definition (P = .02 and P = .03, respectively). In multivariate analysis, known history of COPD (odds ratio [OR] 5.48, 95% CI 1.44-20.86, P = .01), sex (OR 6.16, 95% CI 1.64-23.16, P = .007), and handgrip strength at the first SBT (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85-0.97, P = .004) were significantly associated with difficult or prolonged weaning. Extubation failure, as defined by re-intubation or unscheduled noninvasive ventilation within 48 h after extubation, occurred 14 times after 92 attempts, leading to an extubation failure rate of 15%. No association was found between handgrip strength and extubation outcome.

Conclusions: Muscle weakness, assessed by handgrip strength, is associated with difficult or prolonged mechanical ventilation weaning and ICU stay, but not with extubation outcome.