The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) ABCD classification tool has been used to assess the symptom burden and exacerbation risk of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An area requiring further exploration is the relationship between the GOLD classification's basic components and the measurements acquired by Sit-to-Stand tests (STST). We aimed to study the relationship between STST and the component of the GOLD classification tool. This study was conducted on a sample of 42 COPD subjects with patient history, COPD assessment test (CAT) and spirometry. 5STST performance time and the number 30s-STST repetitions showed differences of statistical significance in COPD subjects considered to be more symptomatic and in subjects with high risk of future exacerbations. Both STSTs correlated significantly with forced expiratory volume in one second % predicted (FEV1%), CAT, number of acute exacerbations in the past year and number of hospitalized exacerbations in the past year. STST performance correlates significantly with items of the CAT questionnaire that assess breathlessness, limitation of activities, confidence and lack of energy. Using multivariate analysis, age, FEV1% and CAT score manifested the strongest negative association with STST performance. 5STST performance time and the number 30s-STST repetitions in COPD patients correlates with the level of symptoms and the risk of future exacerbations that define groups A-D based on GOLD 2018 classification tool (at the time of data acquisition). The correlation of STST performance with CAT score involves specific items of the questionnaire that assess breathlessness, limitation of activities, confidence and lack of energy.
Keywords: COPD; Sit-to-Stand test; acute exacerbation of COPD; physical therapy; rehabilitation.