Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disease characterized by limitations in lung airflow. It is a leading cause of death, disability and hospitalization in Canada. It is now well-established that COPD is a complex, multisystem disease that impacts considerably more than lung function. In particular, recent evidence has identified prominent balance impairments and an increased risk of falls among those with COPD. Given the profound impact of falls on the individual and the healthcare system, and the importance of balance as a modifiable risk factor, it is critical that we develop a tailored approach to fall risk assessment and prevention in COPD. The American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society have recently updated pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines to include balance assessment. However, little research has been conducted on the psychometric properties of balance tests to inform fall risk identification and management in COPD. Therefore, my thesis research will determine the construct validity and reliability of three short balance screening measures in people with COPD using a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort study.