title: Balance impairment in patients with COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease that results in progressive airflow limitation and respiratory distress. Physiopathological features of COPD suggest that people who suffer from this disease have many risk factors for falls that have been identified in older individuals. The aim of the study was to compare and quantify functional balance between COPD patients and healthy subjects; to investigate the risk of falls in acute stages of the disease and to identify risk factors that could lead to falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 46 patients with moderate-severe COPD (29 stable and 17 in acute exacerbation--AECOPD) and 17 healthy subjects (control group) having similar demographic data. We analyzed the difference in Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Single Leg Stance (SLS) and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) between these three groups and the correlation of these scores with a number of incriminatory factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of COPD was associated with significant worsening of balance tests: BBS (55 control, vs. 53 COPD, vs. 44 AECOPD points p<0.001), TUG (8.6 control vs. 12.3 COPD vs. 15.9 AECOPD seconds. p<0.001), SLS (31.1 control vs. 17.7 COPD vs. 7.2 AECOPD seconds p<0.001) which may be associated with an increased risk of falls. Anxiety and depression were significantly associated with decreased balance test scores; anxiety (2 control vs. 6 COPD vs. 9 AECOPD points p<0.001) depression (2 control vs. 7 COPD vs. 12 AECOPD points p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results COPD patients in moderate-severe stages and especially those in exacerbation have a high risk of falls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandru Florian
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Crişan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oancea
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Timar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Ovidiu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fira-Mladinescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Voicu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tudorache
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors