Mobility and Functional Status Among Hospitalized COPD Patients

Older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at known risk for deconditioning and functional decline during hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between in-hospital mobility activities and functional status indicators in hospitalized older adults with COPD. A predictive correlational, secondary analysis design using multivariate analyses assessed the relationship between mobility events and functional status indicators in patients with COPD (n = 111) and non-COPD (n = 190) diagnoses. Ambulation to the bathroom, ambulation outside the room, and number of days to first out-of-bed activity predicted discharge to home versus extended care facility (ECF; p ≤ .05); days to first out-of-bed activity and out-of-room ambulation predicted reduced length of stay (LOS; p ≤ .05); no variables predicted 30-day readmission. COPD patients experienced more nonweight-bearing activity and longer lengths of stay than non-COPD patients. Specific early weight-bearing activities were associated with positive functional status-related outcomes in hospitalized COPD patients.