Fear of falling, fall-related self-efficacy, anxiety and depression in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the risk and frequency of falls, prevalence of fear of falling and activity avoidance, the magnitude of fall-related self-efficacy, and anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

A cross-sectional study in patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who visited a lung clinic at a university hospital in Sweden.

SUBJECTS

Successive inclusion from autumn 2005 to spring 2006 of 80 patients with a mean age of 65 years.

INTERVENTION

Nil.

MAIN MEASURES

A questionnaire about fall history and consequences of fall, The Falls Efficacy Scale, Swedish version, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used.

RESULTS

Twenty patients (25%) reported at least one fall in the last year and 29% displayed fear of falling. Odds ratio for falling was 4-5 times higher in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Older patients, women and patients with previous falls had a higher rate of fear of falling, and those with fear of falling had lower fall-related self-efficacy, increased level of anxiety and depression, more activity avoidance and use of assistive device.

CONCLUSION

The increased risk of falls in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease warrants attention in order to reduce serious and adverse health consequences of falls.