Background and objective: Six-minute walk test (6-MWT) is a widely used test for assessing exercise performance in chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD). However, the association between reduced walking distance and balance impairment in COPD has not been directly investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify exercise performance as a predictor for balance impairment in COPD. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at a single visit involving stable COPD patients in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand from November 2015 to October 2017. The 6-MWT was measured for in all subjects. The prognostic confounding factors were also collected for all subjects. Balance test was measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. A cut-off score of BBS < 46 and/or the TUG ≥ 13.5 s was classified as balance impairment. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify the six-minute walk distance (6-MWD) as a predictor for balance impairment in COPD. Results: Of the 176 COPD subjects assessed for eligibility, 118 COPD patients were enrolled including 86 males (72.9%) with a mean age of 73.5 ± 8.1 years. Thirty-three (28.0%) cases were classified with a balance impairment. The 6-MWD < 300 m was the predictor of balance impairment in COPD with an adjusted risk ratio of 10.10 (95%CI; 2.87, 35.61, p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: The 6-MWT is not only useful for evaluation of exercise performance, but also for prediction of balance impairment in patients with COPD. Our study suggests that the 6-MWD < 300 m is an important risk factor for balance impairment in COPD.
Keywords: balance; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; exercise; falls; six-minute walk distance; timed up and go test.