LAUSR

BACKGROUND The relationship between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and pinch strength in patients with cardiovascular disease is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations among MCI and pinch strength and to determine a pinch strength cut-off value for use in the assessment of MCI. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 135 patients with cardiovascular disease but without probable dementia. MCI was estimated with the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We classified patients into the normal cognitive group and MCI group and compared their clinical characteristics, handgrip strength, and pinch strength. The relation between MCI and pinch strength was clarified with logistic regression analysis, and the cut-off value for three-fingered pinch strength was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS The incidence of MCI was 37.0 %. Significant differences between the two groups were identified for age, body mass index, hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin, dyslipidemia, use of nitrates, educational background, handgrip strength, and pinch strength. After multivariate analysis, three-fingered pinch strength was significantly associated with MCI (odds ratio 0.77, p= 0.02). The cut-off value of three-fingered pinch strength for predicting MCI was 6.75 kgf (area under the curve = 0.71; p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Pinch strength was one independent factor significantly associated with MCI in patients with cardiovascular disease. The determination of a cut-off value for three-fingered pinch strength that can predict MCI may be one important factor in the early screening for MCI in the daily clinical setting.