Abstract
Background: The association of gait characteristics with disease severity and health status/symptom burden is currently unknown in COPD patients.
Aim: To examine whether gait characteristics (cadence (steps/min), stride length (m), and walking speed (m/s)) are affected by health status/symptom burden and the degree of lung dysfunction in COPD.
Methods: 17 clinically stable COPD patients (mean±SD FEV1% predicted: 56.8±19.2, CAT: 19.6±9.0; range: 6.0 to 33.0) underwent laboratory assessment (stereophotogrammetry) and free-living gait monitoring (multi-sensor wearable system (INDIP)). The laboratory tests included common daily walking tasks (straight walking, turns, surfaces and obstacles). Free-living daily-life activities included a 2.5-hour habitual daily activity assessment. Linear regression was employed to investigate associations between gait characteristics and the following variables: CAT, FEV1% predicted, and FVC% predicted.
Results: A better CAT score was associated (p<0.05) with a faster walking cadence across the various laboratory tasks (r=-0.56 to -0.70, R2=0.32 to 0.49) and the free-living activities (r=-0.49, R2=0.24). Stride length and walking speed (Table 1) were not associated with CAT scores. Lung function was not associated with gait characteristics.
Conclusion: Irrespective of the degree of lung dysfunction, more symptomatic COPD patients exhibit greater impairment in cadence. Future pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions may include cadence as a study outcome.
Aim: To examine whether gait characteristics (cadence (steps/min), stride length (m), and walking speed (m/s)) are affected by health status/symptom burden and the degree of lung dysfunction in COPD.
Methods: 17 clinically stable COPD patients (mean±SD FEV1% predicted: 56.8±19.2, CAT: 19.6±9.0; range: 6.0 to 33.0) underwent laboratory assessment (stereophotogrammetry) and free-living gait monitoring (multi-sensor wearable system (INDIP)). The laboratory tests included common daily walking tasks (straight walking, turns, surfaces and obstacles). Free-living daily-life activities included a 2.5-hour habitual daily activity assessment. Linear regression was employed to investigate associations between gait characteristics and the following variables: CAT, FEV1% predicted, and FVC% predicted.
Results: A better CAT score was associated (p<0.05) with a faster walking cadence across the various laboratory tasks (r=-0.56 to -0.70, R2=0.32 to 0.49) and the free-living activities (r=-0.49, R2=0.24). Stride length and walking speed (Table 1) were not associated with CAT scores. Lung function was not associated with gait characteristics.
Conclusion: Irrespective of the degree of lung dysfunction, more symptomatic COPD patients exhibit greater impairment in cadence. Future pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions may include cadence as a study outcome.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | PA1592 |
| Journal | European Respiratory Journal |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | Suppl 67 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Sept 2023 |
| Event | ERS International Congress 2023 - Milan, Italy Duration: 9 Sept 2023 → 13 Sept 2023 https://www.ersnet.org/congress-and-events/congress/ |