Handgrip strength in end stage of renal disease—a narrative review

Background: Handgrip strength (HS) measures have been associated with nutritional status, morbidity, and mortality in end stage of renal disease (ESRD). Objective: We aimed to present and discuss the HS method in ESRD patients, by reviewing published studies on the subject. Methods: PUBMED, MEDLINE, and LILACS databases were consulted, with no filters regarding the date of publication or age of population. Results: The terms “handgrip strength,” “end stage of renal disease,” and “nutrition status” were used, and 32 articles with publication dates from 1983 to 2017 were included. Handgrip strength is considered a simple and rapid method of assessing muscle function in chronic kidney disease and is an important predictor of nutritional status depletion, development of comorbidities, and early mortality. Conclusion: There is a lack of studies that analyzed associations between HS and clinical and nutritional outcomes in ESRD. The establishment of HS protocols and reference values in ESRD are necessary, to assist preventive measures of unfavorable outcomes in this population.