Evaluation of handgrip strength and lung volumes inpatients hospitalized for nonsurgical conditions

AIMS: The aim of this investigation was to analyzehandgrip strength and lung volumes in hospitalized patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled subjects aged between 30 and 80 years of both genders and hospitalized under non-surgical conditions for at least 48 hours (Hospitalized Group) and healthy subjects accessed in a sport club (Control Group) in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Forced vital capacity, expiratory volume in the first second, expiratory volume in the first second /forced vital capacity relation, expiratory flow peak, and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity were evaluated. The handgrip strength was evaluated throught hand dinamometry. RESULTS:A total of 32 subjects were evaluated, being 16 in each group. They matched in age (p=0.183), height (p=0.685), weight (p=0.105) and body index mass (p=0.157) in both groups. The Hospitalized Group had a median hospital stay of 9.5 days (7-15; minimum 3, maximum 17). When compared to the Control Group, the Hospitalized Group had a reduction in forced vital capacity (p less than 0.001), expiratory volume in the first second (p less than 0.001), expiratory volume in the first second /forced vital capacity relation (p=0.006), peak expiratory flow (p less than 0.001) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (p less than 0.001), as well as in the handgrip force (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The hospitalized subjects showed decrease in handgrip and lung volumes