Introdução: A doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) é caracterizada por limitação ao fluxo aéreo, sendo progressiva e contínua, com diagnóstico baseado na avaliação clínica dos sintomas e espirometria. O tabagismo e a exposição à fumaça de biomassa são alguns dos fatores etiológicos para esta doença. Objetivo: Conhecer as diferenças clínicas, funcionais e tomográficas em voluntários com DPOC por exposição ao tabagismo e por exposição ambiental e/ou ocupacional. Material e Método: É um estudo observacional, transversal e analítico de indivíduos com diagnóstico de DPOC realizado no HCFMRP-USP. Todos os participantes foram submetidos à tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução (TCAR), gasometria arterial, espirometria, mensuração da difusão pulmonar de monóxido de carbono, indução de escarro, coleta de sangue venoso e responderam a um instrumento construído, a escala de dispnéia mMRC, escala de gravidade de DPOC CAT e questionário sócio-demográfico. Foi utilizado o teste exato de Fisher para as variáveis qualitativas e foi realizado para as variáveis quantitativas o teste \"t\" de Student para amostras independentes ou teste não paramétrico de Wilcoxon para amostras independentes. Resultados: Para o estudo, foram incluídos 31 pacientes, 16 pacientes do grupo ambiental e/ ou ocupacional e 15 pacientes do grupo tabagista. Foi observado predomínio do sexo feminino em ambos os grupos. No grupo com DPOC ambiental e/ou ocupacional, foi observada maior média de idade (p = 0,00003); menor grau de instrução (p = 0,02); maior frequência de dispneia (p = 0,015); menor SpO2 no final do teste da caminhada de 6 minutos (p = 0,02), menor pO2 corrigida pela idade e SaO2 (p = 0,02, em ambas as variáveis) e no escarro induzido maior número de células (p = 0,04) e no grupo com DPOC por exposição ao tabagismo foi observado maior ocorrência de enfisema (p < 0,025) e no escarro induzido, maior concentração de IL8 (p = 0,04) e IL6 (p = 0,03). Conclusão: A DPOC ambiental e/ou ocupacional difere da DPOC de etiologia tabagista em relação à gasometria (PaO2 e SaO2), mesmo quando os grupos são semelhantes em gravidade da DPOC e também ocorreu maior frequência de dispneia, mostrando maior acometimento deste grupo. Este grupo apresenta um comportamento de paciente com fenótipo de bronquite crônica e nesta doença a hipoxemia é mais grave e inspira maior atenção por parte da equipe multidisciplinar / Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation, being progressive and continuous, with a diagnosis based on the clinical evaluation of the symptoms and spirometry. Smoking and exposure to biomass smoke are some of the etiological factors for this disease. Objective: Identify clinical, functional and tomographic differences in volunteers with COPD due to exposure to smoking and environmental and / or occupational exposure. Material and Method: Observational, transversal and analytical study with individuals with COPD diagnosis performed at HCFMRP-USP. All participants underwent high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), arterial blood gas analysis, spirometry, pulmonary diffusion of carbon monoxide measurement, sputum induction, venous blood collection and responded to a built instrument, mMRC dyspnea scale, severity of COPD CAT and socio-demographic questionnaire. Fisher\'s exact test was used for qualitative variables and Student\'s t-test for independent samples or Wilcoxon\'s non-parametric test for independent samples was performed for the quantitative variables. Results: For the study, 31 patients were included, 16 patients from the environmental and/or occupational group and 15 from the smoking group. Females predominated in both groups. In the group with environmental and/or occupational COPD, a higher mean age (p = 0.00003) was observed; lower level of education (p = 0.02); higher frequency of dyspnea (p = 0.015); lower SpO2 at the end of the 6-minute walk test (p = 0.02), lower age-corrected pO2 and SaO2 (p = 0.02, in both variables) and in sputum induced higher levels of IL8 (p = 0.04), and IL6 (p = 0.03), respectively. The highest incidence of emphysema (p < 0.025) and induced sputum was observed in the group with COPD. Conclusion: Environmental and/or occupational COPD differs from COPD of smoking etiology in relation to arterial blood gas (pO2 and SaO2), even when the groups are similar in severity of COPD, and also a higher frequency of dyspnea occurred, showing a greater involvement of this group. The group presents a behavior of patients with phenotype of chronic bronchitis and in this disease the hypoxemia is more serious and inspires greater attention on the part of the multidisciplinary team

Orientador: Irma de Godoy / Resumo: Resumo Introdução: A Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) apresenta impacto global e sintomas como dispneia, tosse e expectoração levam ao comprometimento da qualidade de vida (QV) e das atividades de vida diária. Objetivos: Avaliar a prevalência, variabilidade e repercussões dos sintomas em tabagistas, ex- tabagistas e pacientes com DPOC. Métodos: Foram avaliados 108 indivíduos de ambos os sexos com idade ≥ 40 anos (tabagista e ex-tabagistas: 32; DPOC leve/moderado: 36; DPOC grave/muito grave: 40) provenientes dos ambulatórios de Pneumologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu. Todos foram submetidos à avaliação clínica, responderam a questionário elaborado para o estudo para avaliação dos sintomas, a variabilidade dos mesmos durante o dia e semana durante períodos de estabilidade da doença. Foi realizada a avaliação do estado tabágico confirmada pela medida do monóxido de carbono no ar expirado, espirometria antes e após broncodilatador, avalição da composição do corpo por meio da impedância bioelétrica e da sensação de dispneia por meio do instrumento do Medical Research Council modificado (mMRC). O teste de avaliação da DPOC (CAT) foi aplicado e foi avaliada a distância caminhada em 6 minutos (DP6), a força muscular periférica por meio do dimamômetro manual e do dinamômetro portátil Microfet 2, a qualidade de vida por meio do Questionário de Qualidade de Vida do Hospital Saint George (SGRQ) e os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão por meio da ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) performs a global impact and symptoms such as dyspnea, cough and expectoration which imply on quality of life and daily activities commitment. Objectives: Assess the prevalence, variability and repercussions of symptoms in smokers, former smokers and COPD patients. Methods: 108 subjects of both gender aged ≥ 40 years old were evaluated (smokes/former smokers:32; mild/moderate COPD:36; severe/very severe COPD:40) from the outpatient clinics of Pulmonology of the Clinical Hospital at the Faculty of Medicine of Botucatu. All were submitted to clinical evaluation, answered a questionnaire prepared for the study to evaluate the symptoms, their variability during the day and week during the periods of disease stability. The biochemically confirmed smoking status was determined by the measurement of carbon monoxide in the expired air, spirometry before and after bronchodilator, nutritional assessment through bioelectrical impedance and dyspnea through the modified Medical Research Council instrument (mMRC). The COPD evaluation test (CAT) was applied and the walking distance was evaluated in 6 minutes (6MWD), the peripheral muscle strength by means of the hand dimmer and the Microfet, the quality of life by means of the Quality of Life Questionnaire Saint George Hospital (SGRQ) and symptoms of anxiety and depression through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Statistical Analysis: descriptive analysis was perform... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Introdução: Medidas baseadas no relato dos pacientes vêm sendo incorporadas de forma crescente como parâmetros adicionais na avaliação das intervenções e na decisão por modalidades de tratamento. Um dessas medidas é a avaliação da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS). Nos diversos estudos de QVRS em DPOC constata-se a predominância daqueles que avaliaram a influência de fatores clínicos relacionados à função pulmonar. Objetivos: Avaliar a QVRS de pacientes com DPOC e analisar a influência de fatores clínicos e sóciodemográficos e de bem-estar espiritual, na QVRS desses pacientes. Método: Foram entrevistados 70 pacientes atendidos em um ambulatório de pneumologia. Os dados foram coletados utilizando-se três instrumentos: uma ficha de caracterização dos pacientes, a Escala de Bem Estar Espiritual (EBE), contendo um componente religioso (BER) e um existencial (BEE), e o Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), composto pelos domínios Sintomas, Atividades e Impactos. A regressão linear múltipla, método backward, foi a estratégia utilizada para identificação dos fatores associados à QVRS. Resultados: Os pacientes eram homens, em sua maioria, tinham em média 64,24 anos (dp =10,22), baixo nível de escolaridade e de renda, católicos, ex-fumantes, com alta carga tabágica e com DPOC grave ou muito grave. Os escores do SGRQ indicaram má QVRS, principalmente em função das limitações na atividade física (média de 72%, dp=15). No domínio Sintomas, a média foi de 65% (dp= 18), de 57% (dp=19) no domínio Impactos e de 63% (dp=15) no escore total. A EBE mostrou um alto nível de bem-estar espiritual, com maior contribuição do componente religioso, o escore total foi de 94,87 (dp= 13,56), 51,50 (dp =8,68) para o domínio religioso e 43,37 (dp=6,76) para o existencial. Nas analises multivariadas, as variáveis de maior influência na QVRS foram: a escolaridade, presente nos modelos finais dos três domínios e no total do SGRQ (valores de -15,15 em sintomas, -10,75 em atividade, -19,33 em impactos e -44,20 no escore total) ; presença de comorbidades ( -9,00) , trabalho atual ( -12,22), BER ( 0,41) e BEE (-0,88) no domínio Atividade; tempo de DPOC ( 0,61) , no domínio Sintomas e carga tabágica ( -0,131) no domínio Impactos, para o escore total, trabalho atual ( -36,59), presença de comorbidades ( -17,88), BER ( 1,30) e BEE ( -1,94). Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo reforçam a importância de considerar fatores como a escolaridade, o trabalho, a presença de comorbidades, a religiosidade e a espiritualidade na assistência integral aos pacientes com DPOC, visando proporcionar-lhes uma melhor qualidade de vida. / Introduction: Patient Report Outcomes are being increasingly incorporated as additional parameters in the evaluation of interventions and decision for treatment modalities. One of these measures is the evaluation of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). In several studies of HRQOL in COPD patients there is a predominance of evaluating the influence of clinical factors related to lung function. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the HRQOL of COPD patients and analyze the influence of sociodemographic, clinical and spiritual well being factors, on patients HRQOL. Method: We interviewed 70 patients treated on a pulmonology outpatient. Data were collected using three instruments: a form of patients characterization, the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), comprising Symptoms, Activities and Impacts domains, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), which includes a religious component (RWB) and an existential (EWB). Multiple linear regression, backward method, was the strategy chose to identify associated factors with HRQOL. Results: The patients were majority men, had an average of 64.24 years (SD = 10.22), low education and income, Catholics, former smokers, with high smoking load and severe or very severe COPD. The SGRQ scores indicated poor HRQOL, mainly due to limitations in physical activity (average of 72%, sd = 15). In the Symptoms domain the average was 65% (sd = 18), 57% (sd = 19) in the Impacts domain and of 63% (sd = 15) in the total score. The SWBS showed a high level of spiritual well-being (total score of 94.87, sd = 13.56), with major contribution of religious component, the 51.50 (sd = 8.68) for the religious domain and 43.37 (sd = 6.76) to the existential one. In multivariate analysis, the variables that influenced HRQOL were: schooling, present in the final model of the three domains and SGRQ total (values of -15.15 in Symptoms, -10.75 in Activities, -19 in Impacts, and -44.20 in total score); comorbidities presence ( -9.00), current job ( -12.22), RWB ( 0.41) and EWB (-0, 88) in Activities area; duration of COPD ( 0.61) in Symptoms; tobacco intake ( -0.131) in Impacts and current job ( -36.59), comorbidities presence ( -17.88 ), RWB ( 1.30) and EWB ( -1.94) in total score. Conclusion: The results of this study reinforce the importance of considering factors such as education, employment, presence of comorbidities, religion and spirituality in comprehensive care to patients with COPD in order to provide them a better quality of life.

Introdução: Medidas baseadas no relato dos pacientes vêm sendo incorporadas de forma crescente como parâmetros adicionais na avaliação das intervenções e na decisão por modalidades de tratamento. Um dessas medidas é a avaliação da Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS). Nos diversos estudos de QVRS em DPOC constata-se a predominância daqueles que avaliaram a influência de fatores clínicos relacionados à função pulmonar. Objetivos: Avaliar a QVRS de pacientes com DPOC e analisar a influência de fatores clínicos e sóciodemográficos e de bem-estar espiritual, na QVRS desses pacientes. Método: Foram entrevistados 70 pacientes atendidos em um ambulatório de pneumologia. Os dados foram coletados utilizando-se três instrumentos: uma ficha de caracterização dos pacientes, a Escala de Bem Estar Espiritual (EBE), contendo um componente religioso (BER) e um existencial (BEE), e o Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), composto pelos domínios Sintomas, Atividades e Impactos. A regressão linear múltipla, método backward, foi a estratégia utilizada para identificação dos fatores associados à QVRS. Resultados: Os pacientes eram homens, em sua maioria, tinham em média 64,24 anos (dp =10,22), baixo nível de escolaridade e de renda, católicos, ex-fumantes, com alta carga tabágica e com DPOC grave ou muito grave. Os escores do SGRQ indicaram má QVRS, principalmente em função das limitações na atividade física (média de 72%, dp=15). No domínio Sintomas, a média foi de 65% (dp= 18), de 57% (dp=19) no domínio Impactos e de 63% (dp=15) no escore total. A EBE mostrou um alto nível de bem-estar espiritual, com maior contribuição do componente religioso, o escore total foi de 94,87 (dp= 13,56), 51,50 (dp =8,68) para o domínio religioso e 43,37 (dp=6,76) para o existencial. Nas analises multivariadas, as variáveis de maior influência na QVRS foram: a escolaridade, presente nos modelos finais dos três domínios e no total do SGRQ (valores de -15,15 em sintomas, -10,75 em atividade, -19,33 em impactos e -44,20 no escore total) ; presença de comorbidades ( -9,00) , trabalho atual ( -12,22), BER ( 0,41) e BEE (-0,88) no domínio Atividade; tempo de DPOC ( 0,61) , no domínio Sintomas e carga tabágica ( -0,131) no domínio Impactos, para o escore total, trabalho atual ( -36,59), presença de comorbidades ( -17,88), BER ( 1,30) e BEE ( -1,94). Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo reforçam a importância de considerar fatores como a escolaridade, o trabalho, a presença de comorbidades, a religiosidade e a espiritualidade na assistência integral aos pacientes com DPOC, visando proporcionar-lhes uma melhor qualidade de vida. / Introduction: Patient Report Outcomes are being increasingly incorporated as additional parameters in the evaluation of interventions and decision for treatment modalities. One of these measures is the evaluation of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). In several studies of HRQOL in COPD patients there is a predominance of evaluating the influence of clinical factors related to lung function. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the HRQOL of COPD patients and analyze the influence of sociodemographic, clinical and spiritual well being factors, on patients HRQOL. Method: We interviewed 70 patients treated on a pulmonology outpatient. Data were collected using three instruments: a form of patients characterization, the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), comprising Symptoms, Activities and Impacts domains, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), which includes a religious component (RWB) and an existential (EWB). Multiple linear regression, backward method, was the strategy chose to identify associated factors with HRQOL. Results: The patients were majority men, had an average of 64.24 years (SD = 10.22), low education and income, Catholics, former smokers, with high smoking load and severe or very severe COPD. The SGRQ scores indicated poor HRQOL, mainly due to limitations in physical activity (average of 72%, sd = 15). In the Symptoms domain the average was 65% (sd = 18), 57% (sd = 19) in the Impacts domain and of 63% (sd = 15) in the total score. The SWBS showed a high level of spiritual well-being (total score of 94.87, sd = 13.56), with major contribution of religious component, the 51.50 (sd = 8.68) for the religious domain and 43.37 (sd = 6.76) to the existential one. In multivariate analysis, the variables that influenced HRQOL were: schooling, present in the final model of the three domains and SGRQ total (values of -15.15 in Symptoms, -10.75 in Activities, -19 in Impacts, and -44.20 in total score); comorbidities presence ( -9.00), current job ( -12.22), RWB ( 0.41) and EWB (-0, 88) in Activities area; duration of COPD ( 0.61) in Symptoms; tobacco intake ( -0.131) in Impacts and current job ( -36.59), comorbidities presence ( -17.88 ), RWB ( 1.30) and EWB ( -1.94) in total score. Conclusion: The results of this study reinforce the importance of considering factors such as education, employment, presence of comorbidities, religion and spirituality in comprehensive care to patients with COPD in order to provide them a better quality of life.

A characteristic feature of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an abnormal inflammatory response in the lungs to inhaled particles or gases. The ability to assess and monitor this response in the lungs of COPD patients is important for understanding the pathogenic mechanisms, but also provides a measure of the activity of the disease. Disease activity is more likely to relate to lung inflammation rather than the degree of airflow limitation as measured by the FEV1. Preliminary studies have shown the 18F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F FDG-PET) signal, as a measure of lung inflammation, is quantifiable in the lungs and is increased in COPD patients compared to controls. However, the methodology requires standardisation and any further enhancement of the methodology would improve its application to assess inflammation in the lungs. I investigated various methods of assessing FDG uptake in the lungs and assessed the reproducibility of these methods, and particularly evaluated whether the data was reproducible or not in the COPD patients (smokers and ex-smokers). This data was then compared with a group of healthy controls to assess the role of dynamic 18F FDG-PET scanning as a surrogate marker of lung inflammation. My data showed a good reproducibility of all methods of assessing FDG lung uptake. However, using conventional Patlak analysis, the uptake was not statistically different between COPD and the control group. Encouraging results in favour of COPD patients were nonetheless shown using compartmental methods of assessing the FDG lung uptake, suggesting the need to correct for the effect of air and blood (tissue fraction effect) when assessing this in a highly vascular organ like the lungs. A prospective study analysis involving a bigger cohort of COPD patients would be desirable to investigate this further.

The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the biological, behavioral, and psychosocial attributes of individuals diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Specific aims were to: 1) explore the predictive power of spirometry measures for event-free survival in patients with heart failure and suspected COPD, focusing on the differences in survival between those with and without airflow limitation; 2) examine the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) in patients with concomitant COPD and heart failure; and 3) test the efficacy of a theory-based, multidimensional, self-care educational intervention using an eHealth platform on measures of symptom severity and variability, anxiety and depressive symptoms, perceived self-care ability, perceived self-care adherence, and selfcare information needs (knowledge) in a sample of adult patients with stable COPD. Specific aim one was addressed by evaluation of the predictive power of spirometry measures (forced expiratory volume/second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], and the ratio of FEV1/FVC) for event-free time to combined hospitalization/mortality after controlling for clinical and sociodemographic variables. This analysis revealed that those patients with airflow limitation were 2.2 times more likely to experience hospitalization/mortality compared to those without airflow limitation. The second specific aim was addressed with a psychometric evaluation of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social support (MSPSS) which included determination of internal consistency reliability, the factor structure and construct validity by hypothesis testing in participants with comorbid COPD and heart failure. The MSPSS was a valid and reliable instrument to measure perceived social support in patients with comorbid COPD and heart failure. The third specific aim was addressed by a trial of an eHealth educational intervention in participants with COPD (N = 20). This intervention resulted in significant change in symptom severity evaluation in patients categorized as having medium symptom severity for the following symptoms: distress due to cough, chest tightness, dyspnea with activity and fatigue; these symptoms were perceived as more severe in the intervention period. Anxiety, depressive symptoms and perceived self-care ability were unchanged; however, perceived self-care adherence scores improved, and knowledge needs were significantly reduced after the intervention.

There is notable heterogeneity in clinical presentation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Classification of COPD is usually based on the severity of airflow limitation (pre- and post- bronchodilator FEV1), which may not sensitively differentiate subpopulations with distinct phenotypes. A recent advance of quantitative medical imaging and data analysis techniques allows for deriving quantitative computed tomography (QCT) imaging-based metrics. These imaging-based metrics can be used to link structural and functional alterations at multiscale levels of human lung. We acquired QCT images of 800 former and current smokers from Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcomes in COPD Study (SPIROMICS). A GPU-based symmetric non-rigid image registration method was applied at expiration and inspiration to derived QCT-based imaging metrics at multiscale levels. With these imaging-based variables, we employed a machine learning method (an unsupervised clustering technique (K-means)) to identify imaging-based clusters. Four clusters were identified for both current and former smokers. Four clusters were identified for both current and former smokers with meaningful associations with clinical and biomarker measures. Results demonstrated that QCT imaging-based variables in patients with COPD can derive statistically stable and clinically meaningful clusters. This sub-grouping can help better categorize the disease phenotypes, ultimately leading to a development of an efficient therapy.

The overall aim of this work was to examine the effects of depleted nutritional status on some aspects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Morbidity. In paper І, we found that energy intake was lower than the calculated energy demand for all patients. A low body mass index (BMI) at inclusion and weight loss, during the one year follow-up period were independent risk factors for having a new exacerbation (p = 0.003 and 0.006, respectively). Mortality. Nineteen percent of the patients in paper ІІ, where underweight (BMI&lt;20). A significant positive correlation was found between BMI and FEV1, and this correlation remained significant after adjustment for age, sex and pack years (p&lt;0.0001). Being underweight was related to increased overall mortality and respiratory mortality but not to mortality of other causes, 19% of the patients had died within 2 years. The lowest mortality was found among the overweight patients (BMI 25-30 kg/m). Physical capacity and effect of training. In paper ІІІ we investigated baseline characteristics of patients that were starting physical training. We found that peak working capacity was positively related to BMI (r=0.35, p=0.02) and fat free mass index (FFMI) (r=0.49, p=0.004) and negatively related to S-Fibrinogen and serum C reactive protein (S-CRP). BMI and FFMI were significantly related to the 12 minutes walking distance when adjusted for body weight. Fifty to 76% of the variation in physical capacity was accounted for when age, gender, FEV1, FFMI and CRP were combined in a multiple regression model. In Paper ІV the median change in fat free mass (FFM), after 4 months of physical training was 0.5 kg. Old age, low FEV1 and high level of dyspnoea were independent negative predictors of FFM increase after the training period. In conclusion nutritional status is an important determinant of morbidity, mortality and physical capacity in COPD. Low FEV1 and high level of dyspnea are negative predictors for increased FFM after physical training.

Sammanfattning Bakgrund Kronisk obstruktiv lungsjukdom orsakas ofta av rökning, vilket anses av de flesta vara en självförvållad sjukdom. Konsekvenserna av detta blir att patienter med KOL ofta upplever skuld och skamkänslor. Syfte Syftet med denna litteraturstudie är att beskriva patienters erfarenhet av skuld och skam vid kronisk obstruktiv lungsjukdom. Metod I litteraturstudien granskades åtta vetenskapliga artiklar för att få en kunskap om patienternas känslor kring sin sjukdom. Innehållsanalys användes med ett deduktivt förhållningssätt där data bearbetades för att identifiera mönster och teman. Resultat Två huvudkategorier; skuld och skam var från början definierade och under analysen identifierades en tredje; stigmatisering. Dessa kunde senare delas in i tre olika nivåer; individ, familj/omgivning och sjukvård. Konklusion Denna studie ger sjuksköterskan en bättre förståelse för vilka känslor som kan uppstå vid en ofta självförvållad sjukdom som KOL. Den visar också vikten av att möta patienterna med empati, respekt och höja deras känsla av värdighet och moral.

Preliminary evidence suggests that balance deficits constitute an important secondary impairment in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The main objective of this thesis was to describe balance impairment and fall risk in individuals with COPD and to examine interventions for improving balance and reducing fall risk in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation. The first study of this thesis showed that falls are common in patients with COPD and that fallers are characterized by impairments in standard clinical balance measures, such as the Berg Balance Scale and Timed Up and Go. In the second study, we found that the exercise component of conventional pulmonary rehabilitation has only modest effects on balance and fall risk in COPD, highlighting the need to examine the role of balance-specific training for these patients. The third study of this thesis identified the postural control subsystems most responsible for the observed balance deficits in COPD. Compared with age-matched controls, individuals with COPD demonstrated reductions in all balance control subsystems and slower reaction times in response to external perturbations. In this study, we also showed that deficits in balance in patients with COPD were associated with peripheral muscle weakness and reduced physical activity levels. These results informed the design of the final study of this thesis, a randomized controlled trial evaluating the addition of specific balance training to pulmonary rehabilitation for improving balance in patients with COPD. Preliminary results from this study suggest that the addition of thrice weekly balance exercises to a conventional pulmonary rehabilitation program is effective for optimizing gains in measures of functional balance and fall risk. The findings from the four studies included in this thesis support the need for incorporating balance assessment and treatment for at-risk patients with COPD, as part of their comprehensive management.