Life-Space mobility and clinical outcomes in COPD.

Iyer AS1,2,3, Wells JM1,3,4, Bhatt SP1,3, Kirkpatrick DP1,3, Sawyer P5, Brown CJ4,5, Allman RM6, Bakitas MA5,7,8, Dransfield MT1,3,4.

Author information

1: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, aiyer@uabmc.edu.
2: Health Services, Outcomes, and Effectiveness Research Training Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, aiyer@uabmc.edu.
3: Department of Medicine, Lung Health Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, aiyer@uabmc.edu.
4: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA.
5: Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
6: Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
7: Department of Medicine, Center for Palliative and Supportive Care, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
8: School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Social isolation is a common experience in patients with COPD but is not captured by existing patient-reported outcomes, and its association with clinical outcomes is unknown.

METHODS:

We prospectively enrolled adults with stable COPD who completed the University of Alabama at Birmingham Life Space Assessment (LSA) (range: 0-120, restricted Life-Space mobility: ≤60 and a marker of social isolation in older adults); six-minute walk test (6MWT), and the University of California at San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire, COPD Assessment Test, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The occurrence of severe exacerbations (emergency room visit or hospitalization) was recorded by review of the electronic record up to 1 year after enrollment. We determined associations between Life-Space mobility and clinical outcomes using regression analyses.

RESULTS:

Fifty subjects had a mean ± SD %-predicted FEV1 of 42.9±15.5, and 23 (46%) had restricted Life-Space mobility. After adjusting for age, gender, %-predicted FEV1, comorbidity count, inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta2-agonist use, and prior cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, subjects with restricted Life-Space had an increased risk for severe exacerbations (adjusted incidence rate ratio 4.65, 95% CI 1.19-18.23, P=0.03). LSA scores were associated with 6MWD (R=0.50, P<0.001), dyspnea (R=-0.58, P<0.001), quality of life (R=-0.34, P=0.02), and depressive symptoms (R=-0.39, P=0.005).

CONCLUSION:

Restricted Life-Space mobility predicts severe exacerbations and is associated with reduced exercise tolerance, more severe dyspnea, reduced quality of life, and greater depressive symptoms.