Evaluation of a Simple Clinical Test to Detect the Risk of Falling in Patients With BPCO and Research for Predictive Factors of Fall Risk.
Condition: COPD Diagnosed
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The risk of falling in increased in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. To
      date, a screening test (the Berg Balance scale, BBS) is used to evaluate this risk but it
      spends 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

      The aim of our study is to evaluate the sensitivity of a more straightforward test (Timed Up
      and Go, TUG)) to assess the fall risk. The TUG is routinely used in elderly to screen for
      frailty.
    

Detailed description: 
      We will recruit COPD patients in stable condition (free of exacerbation of the disease for a
      month), 40 without chronic respiratory failure and 40 with home oxygen therapy.

      The patients will be proposed to perform the following tests and to fill in questionnaires:

      - Questionnaires: Elderly Falls Screening Test to quantify the falls in the last year,
      Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale.

      Tests:

        -  Berg Balance Scale measuring balance in 14 different functional tasks (abnormal cut-off
           value <56)

        -  Timed Up and Go evaluating the time to rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around,
           walk back to the chair and sit down (abnormal cut-off value >12 seconds).

        -  6 minute walk test evaluating endurance to submaximal exercise.

        -  Isokinetic maximal force of the quadriceps at 60°/s

        -  Balance control: posturography consisting in measuring variations when standing on a
           force platform.

        -  Body composition assessment through Dual Xray Absorptiometry (DXA), to measure body
           muscle mass and more specifically appendicular muscle mass index as a criteria of
           sarcopenia, and bone mineral density.

        -  Blood analysis: a blood sample will be withdrawn to measure calcium, phosphorus, vitamin
           D, albumin transthyretin, cell count, C reactive protein.

      Analysis of the results:

      We will calculate the sensitivity of the TUG test (abnormal test) to detect fall risk as
      assessed by an abnormal BBS score.

      Moreover, in fallers, we will search for predictive factors. More specifically, we will look
      for the role of a decreased quadriceps force, a reduced muscle mass, a poor tolerance of
      exercise, the presence of hypoxia (severity of the disease).

      Perspectives:

      When validated as a screening test for the risk of falling in COPD patients, the TUG test
      could be used routinely by physiotherapists as a more simple and faster test and will enable
      to prevent falls through initiation of a balance control training program.
    

Intervention name(s): Timed Up and Go
Intervention type(s): Procedure
Intervention description(s): It's a functional test evaluating the time to rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back to the chair and sit down (abnormal cut-off value >12 seconds).
Observational model: Other
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        We will recruit COPD patients in stable condition (free of exacerbation of the disease for
        a month), 40 without chronic respiratory failure and 40 with home oxygen therapy.
      
Keywords: Fall; Balance control; Screening test; Oxygen; Skeletal muscle mass