Table 2.
Muscle strength and physical functioning of critical illness survivors at 3 months after hospital discharge measured using hand-held dynamometry and the 6-min walk test
| Variable (n = 56) | Measurement (median, IQR) | % predicted (median, IQR) | % of patients < 80% predicted strength | Correlation with the 6MWT (R2, p value) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum muscle strength (kg)a | ||||
| Grip | 20.4 (9.1, 30.6) | 61 % (25, 108) | 60 | 0.28 (<0.001) |
| Triceps | 12.3 (8.7, 16.7) | 71 % (45, 126) | 52 | 0.31 (<0.001) |
| Biceps | 14.5 (11.7, 19.0) | 72 % (45, 126) | 52 | 0.28 (<0.001) |
| Hamstrings | 13.2 (10.3, 17.6) | 77 % (47, 114) | 53 | 0.30 (<0.001) |
| Quadriceps | 20.3 (16.4, 25.6) | 59 % (35, 88) | 69 | 0.14 (0.013) |
| Ankle dorsiflexors | 13.7 (10.6, 17.2) | 62 % (42, 92) | 57 | 0.13 (<0.001) |
6MWT 6-min walk test
aStrength results reported as the maximum force generated on the dominant body side