Life-Space Mobility of Subjects With COPD on Long-Term Oxygen Therapy Delivered by Non-Portable Devices

Mobility is human body movement in all its forms, including bed-to-chair transfer, walking, daily tasks, participating in work and social functions, exercising, and using public transport. The mobility of people living with COPD is affected negatively by the disease symptoms. However, limited data are available on the life-space mobility in people with COPD on long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). This study aimed to explore the life-space mobility in subjects with COPD on LTOT and verify whether life-space mobility is associated with comorbidities and symptoms, activity in daily life, exercise capacity performance, and quality of life.

This cross-sectional study enrolled 61 subjects with COPD on LTOT (73.0 ± 8.8 y, FEV₁ 41.7 ± 16.0% predicted, on LTOT for 2.8 ± 3.3 y). Life-space mobility (Life-Space Assessment), LTOT usage time, comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index), need for support from a caregiver, exercise capacity (6-min step test), dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council scale), activities of daily living (ADLs, Katz scale), and health-related quality of life (EuroQol 5-Dimension Questionnaire) were assessed.

Mobility restriction was identified in 90% of participants. Life-space mobility was negatively associated with the number of comorbidities (r_s = -0.31, P = .02), dyspnea symptom (r_s = -0.60, P < .001), and positively associated with basic ADLs performance (r_s = 0.59, P < .001) and exercise capacity (r_s = 0.49, P < .001). Dyspnea and exercise capacity were independent predictors of vital space mobility.

Subjects with COPD on LTOT had limited life-space mobility. Interventions to reduce dyspnea and improve exercise capacity should be prioritized to increase this population's domestic and community mobility.