Muscle strength as a predictor of long-term survival in severe congestive heart failure

Aims: The objective of the study was to test the relationship between isolated muscle strength and outcome, and its significance in the context of other exercise variables. Methods and results: 122 consecutive patients (LVEF 21±7%) were enrolled in the study. Isokinetic strength testing of the knee extensor and flexor muscles were performed. A subset of 51 patients underwent additional upright bicycle testing with gas exchange analysis. The outcome up to 60 months was defined by event‐free survival (group A, n=59) or death (group B, n=34). Patients who had been transplanted were excluded from further analysis. The peak strength of the quadriceps muscle was comparable in both groups (N.S.). In contrast, the index (value adjusted for weight) did reveal significant differences (P