Gait differences between adults with COPD and healthy controls: systematic review and meta-analyses

Joren Buekers*, Laura Delgado Ortiz, Dimitrios Megaritis, Ashley Polhemus, Nikolaos Chynkiamis, Sara C. Buttery, Sofie Breuls, Sarah Koch, Elena Gimeno-Santos, Heleen Demeyer, Nick S. Hopkinson, Ioannis Vogiatzis, Thierry Troosters, Anja Frei, Judith Garcia Aymerich

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Fall risk is increased in adults with COPD. Although gait is an important risk factor for falls, hospitalisations, and mortality, the available literature shows inconsistencies on whether gait differs between adults with COPD and healthy controls.

Aim: To identify differences in digitally-measured gait characteristics during laboratory tests between adults with COPD and healthy controls.

Methods: As part of the Mobilise-D project (www.mobilise-d.eu), we conducted a systematic review built upon a previous scoping review (Polhemus, A. et al. npj Digit. Med. 2021). The search was updated in July 2021. Teams of two reviewers independently screened articles and extracted data. Meta-analyses were performed in studies not considered at a high risk of bias.

Results: Twenty-five studies were included. Gait speed was studied in 17 studies (68%), step length in 9 (36%), step time in 7 (28%), cadence in 6 (24%) and step width in 5 (20%). Meta-analyses revealed that adults with COPD walked with a lower self-selected speed and top speed than healthy controls (Table 1). There was a trend towards a lower step length, lower cadence and higher step time at a self-selected walking speed in adults with COPD compared to healthy controls. Step width was similar for both groups.

Conclusion: Adults with COPD exhibit slower gait than healthy controls. This could contribute to the increased fall risk in adults with COPD.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberPA2268
JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
Volume62
Issue numbersuppl 67
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2023
EventERS International Congress 2023 - Milan, Italy
Duration: 9 Sept 202313 Sept 2023
https://www.ersnet.org/congress-and-events/congress/

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