title: Physical and Functional Impairment During and After Hospitalization in Subjects With Severe COPD Exacerbation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  COPD exacerbations are frequent events that have a negative impact on the lives of patients. The aims of this study were to analyze physical and functional impairment during hospital stay in subjects hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation and to assess the physical and functional impact of hospitalization at a 1-month follow-up in patients with severe COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study on a sample of 52 subjects hospitalized due to COPD exacerbation. The assessments were performed at baseline, discharge, and 1-month follow-up. The outcome measures were dyspnea, muscle strength, functional capacity, and postural steadiness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quadriceps strength [1.036 (P = .043) kg mean difference] and the one-leg stance test [1.04 (P = .02) and 0.73 (P = .032) s mean difference right and left leg] showed significant impairment during hospitalization. Dyspnea perception improved significantly (P = .004) during hospitalization. Additionally, strength in the upper and lower limbs [4.04 (P = .002) and 1.23 (P = .038) kg mean difference], functional capacity [3.0 number of steps mean difference (P = .032)], and the one-leg stance test [2.12 (P = .006) and 0.53 (P = .047) s mean difference right and left leg] showed significant impairment 1-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospitalization due to COPD exacerbation leads to physical and functional impairment in patients; impairment is greater at 1-month follow-up. It would be interesting to conduct physical therapy interventions to prevent the impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences. University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Torres-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences. University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Martos
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences. University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díaz-Pelegrina
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences. University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valenza-Demet
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences. University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Moreno-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences. University of Granada, Spain. cvalenza@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Marie Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valenza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: COPD; exacerbation; functional capacity; functional impairment; hospitalized subjects; physical impairment