In a recent year-long study, 40% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experienced falls, with more than 75% of these falling multiple times.

Factors linked with an increased risk of falling included smoking, having other illnesses, taking multiple medications, having a fear of falling, and falling in the past.

"The findings could be useful for developing preventative strategies," said Dr. Cristino Oliveira, lead author of the Respirology study.

Study: Falls by individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A preliminary 12-month prospective cohort study, Cristino C. Oliveira, Annemarie L. Lee, Jennifer McGinley, Michelle Thompson, Louis B. Irving, Gary P. Anderson, Ross A. Clark, Sandy Clarke andLinda Denehy, Respirology, doi: 10.1111/resp.12600, published 23 July 2015.