Highlights
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly recognized as a systemic condition where fall risk is significantly elevated, yet accurate prediction remains a challenge. A recent study has established a clinical prediction model with the following key findings:
- Approximately 42% of individuals with COPD experienced at least one fall over a 12-month prospective period.
- The final predictive model identified three robust factors: a history of two or more falls in the preceding year, a higher number of chronic conditions, and poor performance on the Timed Up and Go Dual-Task (TUG-DT) test.
- A history of recurrent falls (≥2) was the strongest predictor, increasing the odds of future falls by more than 3.5 times.
- The model demonstrated acceptable discrimination (c-statistic 0.69) and excellent calibration, providing a foundation for clinical screening.
