Mobility and Functional Status Among Hospitalized COPD Patients

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pulmonology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face significant risks of deconditioning and functional decline during hospitalization.
• Maintaining functional status is crucial for recovery and quality of life in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between in-hospital mobility activities and functional status indicators in hospitalized older adults diagnosed with COPD.
• To compare mobility patterns and outcomes between COPD and non-COPD patients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a predictive correlational, secondary analysis design with multivariate analyses.
• Assessed correlations between mobility events (e.g., ambulation, out-of-bed activity) and functional status indicators.
• Included patients with COPD (n=111) and without COPD (n=190).

Main Results:

• Ambulation to the bathroom, ambulation outside the room, and days to first out-of-bed activity predicted discharge destination (home vs. extended care facility; p ≤ .05).
• Days to first out-of-bed activity and out-of-room ambulation predicted reduced length of stay (LOS; p ≤ .05).
• No mobility variables predicted 30-day readmission. COPD patients had more non-weight-bearing activity and longer LOS compared to non-COPD patients.

Conclusions:

• Early weight-bearing activities are associated with positive functional outcomes in hospitalized COPD patients.
• Specific in-hospital mobility interventions may improve discharge disposition and reduce length of stay for older adults with COPD.