Influência do equilíbrio postural na participação social de indivíduos com DPOC após a hospitalização

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronicconditionwith high morbidity and mortality, associated not only with respiratory symptomsbutalso with systemic impairments such as postural balance deficits, whichincreasetherisk of falls. These deficits may worsen during hospitalizations, impactingpatients' social participation—defined as the individual's involvement in social anddailyactivities, considering their roles and environmental interactions. However, littleisknown about the factors influencing social participation after hospital discharge,limiting the development of effective interventions. Objective: This study investigatedwhether postural balance was associated with social participation in individualswithCOPD one month after hospitalization. Materials and Methods: Alongitudinal observational study was conducted with hospitalized COPD patients at Hospital BomSamaritano in Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil. Postural balance wasassessedusing the Mini-BESTest, dyspnea with the Modified Medical ResearchCouncil (mMRC) scale, COPD impact with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), andqualityoflife with the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) during hospitalization. Onemonthafterdischarge, social participation was evaluated via telephone using theLate-lifeDisability Instrument (LLDI). The association between postural balanceandsocial participation was analyzed using Generalized Linear Models with Gammadistribution,considering p < 0.05 as significant. Results: Data from 23 participants wereincludedin the analysis. No significant relationship was found between the LLDI domains(frequency and limitation) and the predictor variables: age, CAT, mMRC, total Mini-BESTest score, or its subdomains (gait stability, sensory orientation, reactivepostural responses, and anticipatory postural adjustments). Conclusion: Nosignificantassociations were observed between postural balance and social participationinCOPD patients after hospitalization. The results suggest that social participationisinfluenced by factors beyond clinical and functional variables, such as psychosocial and environmental aspects, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary approachesinmanaging these patients.