Purpose: Hand grip strength (HGS) is a simple way of predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in the general population. However, the practical significance of grip strength in patients with COPD is uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare HGS between subjects with and without COPD and to evaluate its clinical relevance in patients with COPD by using a national survey. Methods: Data were collected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study included 421 adults with COPD and 2,542 controls who completed questionnaires, spirometry, and a HGS test. HGS was compared between subjects with and without COPD, and the association between grip strength, lung function, and quality of life (QoL) was evaluated. Results: The mean HGS was 33.3±9.1 kg in the COPD group and 29.9±9.5 kg in the non-COPD group; adjusted HGS was 30.9±0.33 kg and 30.9±0.11 kg, respectively (P=0.99). HGS was not related to forced vital capacity (β=0.04, P=0.70) or forced expiratory volume in 1 second (β=0.11, P=0.24) in multivariable analysis. HGS was independently associated with the EQ-5D index, but the relationship was stronger in the COPD group (β=0.30, P<0.001) than in the non-COPD group (β=0.21, P<0.001). The results were similar for each component of the EQ-5D, including mobility (β=-0.25, P<0.001), daily activity (β=-0.19, P=0.01), pain/discomfort (β=-0.32, P<0.001), and anxiety/depression (β=-0.16, P=0.01). Conclusion: HGS was not different between subjects with and without COPD, but was associated with QoL – including mobility, daily activity, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression – in patients with COPD. The HGS test could be used as a marker of QoL in patients with COPD and could assist risk stratification in clinical practice.

Background: To improve treatment outcomes for tuberculosis (TB), efforts to reduce treatment failure are necessary. The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of subjects who had failed treatment of tuberculosis and identify the risk factors for treatment failure and poor compliance using national data. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed on tuberculosis subjects whose final outcome was reported as treatment failure during 2015–2017. The same number of subjects with treatment success during the same study period were randomly selected for comparison. Demographics, microbiological, radiographic, and clinical data were collected based on in-depth interviews by TB nurse specialists at all Public Private Mix (PPM) participating hospitals in South Korea. Results: A total of 52 tuberculosis patients with treatment failure were enrolled. In a multivariable analysis, the presence of diabetes, previous history of tuberculosis, and cavity were identified as risk factors for treatment failure; and Medicaid support was a favorable factor for treatment success (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.79). Age, low body mass index (BMI), presence of diabetes, preexisting lung disease, positive sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear result, and the presence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were significantly associated with presence of cavities. Younger age, lower BMI and previous history of TB were associated with poor compliance during treatment (AUC: 0.76). Conclusion: To reduce treatment failure, careful evaluation of the presence of diabetes, previous TB history, underlying lung disease, cavity, results of sputum AFB smears, and socioeconomic status are needed. To enhance treatment compliance, more attention should be paid to younger patients with lower BMIs during follow-up.

Min J, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2020 Sep;35(43):e388. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e388

Min J, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2021 Dec;37(3):e20. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e20

Song JE, et al. Infect Chemother. 2021 Jul;53:e39. https://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2021.0044

Min J, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2022 May;37(20):e164. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e164