Low handgrip strength is associated with a higher incidence of pressure ulcers in hip fractured patients.

Introduction. Pressure ulcers (PUs) are highly frequent in hip fractured elderly patients. Handgrip strength (HGS) is an efficient, method to measure functional capacity. The aim was to analyze if low HGS is associated with higher incidence of pressure ulcers within a population of elderly patients with hip fracture.Material and Methods. A cohort study, which included 462 patients admitted at the Hip and Pelvic Surgery Department of a tertiary hospital, in Monterrey, Mexico. HGS measurement was performed using a Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. Patients were grouped into tertiles according to their grip strength measurement by sex, and evaluated for presence or absence of PUs during hospital admission and followed until discharge. Results. The general incidence of PUs was 25.7%. The incidence was higher in the weaker subjects. After multivariate analysis, only HGS remained associated with PUs incidence.Conclusion. Low handgrip strength is associated with a higher incidence of pressure ulcers