Handgrip Strength But Not Malnutrition According to Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria Is a Risk Factor for Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with Ischemic Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Objective: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that patients with malnutrition and impaired muscle function determined by hand grip strength (HGS) will have adverse outcomes. Approach: We conducted a prospective observational study of 77 patients admitted for ischemic diabetic foot ulcers (IDFU). Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria were used to diagnose malnutrition. Values obtained with a dynamometer were dichotomized into values < and ≥ mean according to the values obtained in both sexes. The Cox proportional hazards model and the Kaplan-Meier method were applied. STROBE guidelines for cohorts were met in the present study. Results: In total, 55 patients (71.4%) were malnourished. Malnutrition according to GLIM criteria was not associated with adverse outcomes. HGS < mean was associated with patient age, duration of diabetes mellitus, body mass index, brachial circumference, plasma albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin, transferrin, and HbA_1c levels. Predictive variables of mortality after applying multivariate Cox model were age >69years (hazard ratio [HR] 4.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-12.0, p = 0.01), and HGS < mean (HR 3.7, 95% CI 1.2-11.3, p = 0.01). Survival time in patients with HGS < mean was shorter than in those with HGS ≥ mean, p < 0.01. Innovation: HGS is an easy and useful tool associated with nutritional parameters and with prognosis in patients admitted for IDFU. Conclusions: Neither malnutrition nor muscle function impairment were associated with limb loss or a need for readmission. Patients with HGS < mean presented shorter survival times. As HGS is a simple and cost-effective tool, it should be implemented as part of the nutritional admission evaluation.