Prognostic value of combined preoperative phase angle and handgrip strength in cardiac surgery

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Phase angle (PA) constitutes a bioelectrical impedance measurement, indicating cell membrane health and integrity, hydration, and nutritional status. Handgrip strength (HS) has been also associated with body composition, nutritional status, inflammation, and functional ability in several chronic diseases. Although their prognostic significance as independent biomarkers has been already investigated regarding the outcomes of a cardiac surgery, our study is the first one to assess the combined predictive value of preoperative PA and HS. Design and methods HS and PA measurements were performed preoperativelyin 195 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The association ofthe combination of HS and PAwith all-cause mortality rates was the primary study outcome, while its association with the intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) was the secondary one. Results PA was positively correlated with HS (r = 0.446, p 5.15 and HS > 25.5, respectively. Patients with combined lower values of PA and HS (PA 5.15–HS > 30.7). The combination of PA–HS was also significantly linked with EuroSCORE II. Conclusion The combination of low preoperative PA and HS values was significantly associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality at 12 months and prolonged ICU LOS; thereby it might serve as a clinically useful prognostic biomarker after cardiac surgery procedures.

Keywords

• Cardiac surgery
• Phase angle
• Handgrip strength
• Coronary artery bypass grafting
• All-cause mortality