Background: Frailty is considered highly prevalent in old age and to confer high risk for falls, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Frailty was defined as a clinical syndrome in which three or more of the following criteria were present: unintentional weight loss (10 lbs in past year), self-reported exhaustion, weakness (grip strength), slow walking speed, and low physical activity. The effects of frailty on activities of daily living (ADL) in COPD is unclear.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of frailty on ADL performance in patients with COPD.
Methods: Seventeen male patients with clinically stable COPD (67.29±6.30 years) participated in this study. Pulmonary function test was performed. Respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP) was measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Self-reported exhaustion, weakness (grip strength using a hand-held dynamometer), low walking speed (4-m walk test), and low physical activity (using International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short From, IPAQ) were determined, and patients with three or more of the criteria present were classified as frail. Exercise capacity was measured using the six-minute walk test. The ADL was evaluated using Glittre-ADL test.
Results: Seven patients were frail, and ten patients were non-frail. The MIP, %MIP, and 6MWT distance were significantly lower, and the duration of Glittre ADL tests was higher in the frail patients as compared to non-frail patients (p< 0.05).
Conclusion(s): Presence of frailty affects ADL performance and exercise capacity in patients with COPD. Inspiratory muscle strength and exercise capacity are impaired in the frail COPD patients.
Implications: Presence of frailty should be assessed in COPD patients since it affects ADL. Determinants of frailty in COPD should be determined. Because respiratory muscle strength is impaired in frail patients, effects of inspiratory muscle training should be investigated.
Key-Words: COPD, Frailty, Activities of daily living
Funding acknowledgements: Hacettepe University (Scientific Research Coordination Unit) supported the study.