Relationship between daily living activities (ADL) limitation and the BODE index in patients with chronic obstructive...

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive disease that reduces functional capacity, deteriorating the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). A close relationship between morbidity and mortality with functional limitation is observed in patients with COPD.

To determine if there is a relationship between ADL limitation and the BODE index, which is a predictor of mortality, in patients with moderate to severe COPD.

Thirty-nine patients with COPD GOLD 2 to 4 recruited by convenience, were submitted to the following tests: spirometry, body mass index (BMI), the London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL) scale, six-minute walking test (6MWT), the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and the BODE index was calculated. The total score and the percentage of the total score LCADL (LCADL%total) were compared between patients of the four quartiles of the BODE using the Analysis of Variance test. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to investigate the association between scores of LCADL and BODE index.

Patients had an average of FEV1%pred=37±12% and were on average 66±8 years-old. The LCADL%total correlated with the BODE index (r=0.65, p<0.05) as well as with the variables FEV1, dyspnea and walked distance in the 6MWT (r=-0.42, r=0.76 and r=-0.67, p<0.05, respectively). The comparison of the average scores of the LCADL%total between BODE quartiles 1, 2, 3 and 4, demonstrated that only the 4th quartile differed significantly from the others (p<0.05).

ADL limitation has a strong association with the BODE index in patients with moderate to severe COPD and with three of the four variables that composes it.