Gait characteristics and their associations with clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Background Abnormalities of spatiotemporal gaitparameters are frequently observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD). However, associations of gaitparameters with clinical outcomes and their implementation into clinical practice have not been established. Research question To investigate gait abnormalitiesand their association with clinical outcomes of COPD. Methods This study included 34 male outpatients with COPDand 16 community-dwelling healthy men aged ≥65 years. The subjects underwent a ten-metre walk test wearing an accelerometer. Data on gaitspeed, step length, cadence, walk ratio, acceleration magnitude, and standard deviation of step time (step time SD) were collected. Forced expiratory volume in 1-second, modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea score, six-minute walk distance (6MWD), quadriceps muscle strength (QMVC), and physical activity (daily steps and time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity per day) were measured in the COPDgroup as clinical outcomes of COPD. We tested group differences in gaitparameters, associations between gaitparameters and COPDclinical outcomes, and predictive capability of gaitparameters for reductions in 6MWD, QMVC, and daily steps in COPD. Results All gaitparameters except walk ratio deteriorated in COPD. Step time SD and gaitspeed were significant independent predictors of 6MWD in COPD(B=−0.440, p = 0.001, B = 0.339, p = 0.007, respectively). Step length was a significant independent predictor of QMVC (B=−0.609, p  Significance Significant associations between gait abnormalitiesmeasured by an accelerometer and deficits in extra-pulmonary features of COPDwere observed. An accelerometer-based gait analysiscould be an alternative approach to assessing gait abnormalitiesand screening of functional decline in COPD.