Relative changes in handgrip strength and skeletal muscle volume in patients with chronic liver disease over two-year observation period.

AimThere are few reports regarding relative changes in muscle function of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We examined CLD patients to evaluate relative changes in handgrip strength and muscle volume. MethodsWe enrolled 413 CLD outpatients who underwent handgrip strength measurements in both 2015 and 2017 (age 67.910.0years; male/female=242/171; hepatitis C virus [HCV]/hepatitis B virus [HBV]/HBV and HCV/alcohol/others=239/92/4/22/56; Child-Pugh score [CPS] in 2015 [5/6/7/8/9/10=335/51/12/11/3/1]). Relative change in muscle volume (PI) from 2015 to 2017 was evaluated using computed tomography findings in 230 of the patients, using a previously reported method. Clinical characteristics, as well as relative changes of handgrip strength (HGS) and PI were analyzed. ResultsFor the patient cohort as a whole, CPS became significantly worse in 2017 (5/6/7/8/9/10=319/56/13/11/5/9; P=0.002). In individual patients with CPS decline, serum albumin level was significantly decreased (3.78 +/- 0.50 to 3.33 +/- 0.61g/dL; P<0.001), whereas no decrease was seen in those without such a decline (4.16 +/- 0.48 to 4.20 +/- 0.44g/dL; P=0.028). Furthermore, HGS (-1.4 +/- 4.8 [n=59] vs. 0.7 +/- 4.8kg [n=354]; P=0.002) and PI (-0.44 +/- 0.88 [n=38] vs. 0.03 +/- 0.64cm(2)/m(2) [n=192]; P=0.003) were worse in patients with, compared to those without, a decline in CPS. Age was not significantly different between patients with and without handgrip strength decline (66.5 +/- 10.3 vs. 65.3 +/- 9.9years; P=0.256). There was a significant relationship between HGS, PI and relative change in serum albumin (r=0.161, P=0.001 and r=0.225, P<0.001, respectively). ConclusionDecline in CPS, especially decreasing serum albumin level, showed a significant relationship with muscle function reduction and muscle volume loss.