scholarly journals Validity of the 6-Minute Walk Test in Patients with End-Stage Lung Diseases Wearing an Oronasal Surgical Mask in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Respiration ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Isabell Anna Just ◽  
Felix Schoenrath ◽  
Philipp Passinger ◽  
Julia Stein ◽  
Dagmar Kemper ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background and Objectives:</i></b> The 6-minute walk test (6MWT), as a clinical assessment tool for functional exercise capacity, is an integral component of lung allocation scores (LASs). In times of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, patients underwent 6MWTs wearing a surgical mask in ambulatory care. We investigated the impact of wearing a mask on 6-minute walk distances (6MWDs). <b><i>Method:</i></b> 6MWDs of 64 patients with end-stage lung diseases wearing an oronasal surgical mask were retrospectively compared to previously investigated 6MWDs of the same cohort, in a pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, without wearing a mask. Four patients were excluded due to a primary vascular disease, 29 patients due to clinically unstable pulmonary functions, and 1 patient due to a psychiatric disorder. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The median age of the patients included was 55 (46–58) years; 15 (48%) were male. Ten (32.2%) were on the Eurotransplant lung transplant waiting list with a median LAS of 34.3 (31.9–36.2). Twenty (64.5%) patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, 7 (22.6%) had interstitial lung diseases, and 4 (12.9%) had other end-stage lung diseases. The mean 6MWD without versus with wearing a mask was 306.9 (101.9) versus 305.7 (103.8) m, with a mean difference of −1.19 m (95% confidence interval −13.4 to 11.03). The observed difference is statistically equivalent to zero (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). No significant differences in 6MWDs were observed between the clinical groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Wearing an oronasal surgical mask did not affect the 6MWDs of patients with advanced lung diseases. Therefore, a masked 6MWT appears to provide a reliable examination of functional exercise capacity in this cohort.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganghee Chae ◽  
Eun Jae Ko ◽  
Sei Won Lee ◽  
Hyun Jung Kim ◽  
Sang Gyu Kwak ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) are valid and reliable measures to assess exercise capacity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the comparison of correlation between peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and 6MWT or ISWT distance has not been investigated. We aimed to investigate the correlation between peak VO2 and 6MWT and ISWT distances in patients with COPD through a meta-analysis.Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to June 30, 2020 for studies comparing the correlation of peak VO2 with either 6MWT or ISWT in patients with COPD. Meta-analysis was performed with R software using a fixed-effect model. We compared the correlation coefficient and measured the heterogeneity using I2 statistics. Results: We identified 12 studies involving 746 patients. Meta-analysis showed a significant correlation between peak VO2 and 6MWT and ISWT distances (6MWT: r = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.70; ISWT: r = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.85; p < 0.0001). The heterogeneity was lower in ISWT than in 6MWT (6MWT: I2 = 56%, p = 0.02; ISWT: I2 = 0%, p = 0.71). Subgroup analysis showed a higher correlation coefficient in the low exercise capacity group than in the high exercise capacity group in both field tests. No risk of publication bias was identified.Conclusions: 6MWT and ISWT were significantly correlated with peak VO2. The findings suggest that ISWT had a stronger correlation with peak VO2 than did 6MWT in patients with COPD.Trial registration: CRD 42020200139 at crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/


Author(s):  
Lisa Lancaster

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple test that is widely used to assess functional exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Patients with IPF have reduced exercise capacity due to a number of factors, such as impaired respiratory mechanics and circulatory problems. As a self-paced and usually submaximal exercise test, the 6MWT reflects the exercise level of everyday activities. Variables measured during the 6MWT, such as six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and desaturation, are strong predictors of mortality in patients with IPF. However, the results of a 6MWT are affected by numerous factors, including age, body size, comorbidities and the use of supplemental oxygen during the test, and these need to be borne in mind when interpreting the results of individual and serial tests. Clinical studies, including trials of potential therapies for IPF, have differed in the methodology used to implement the 6MWT, hindering the comparison of results across studies. In this review, I describe the utility of the 6MWT in patients with IPF and provide recommendations for standardisation of the test for use both in clinical practice and research. A brief video


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 545.1-546
Author(s):  
S. Bayram ◽  
N. G. Tore ◽  
F. Sarİ ◽  
D. C. Saraç ◽  
G. Gülsün ◽  
...  

Background:In most patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), exercise capacity decreases due to pulmonary dysfunction, chest wall restriction and peripheral muscle weakness. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a validated simple field, hence frequently used to evaluate exercise capacity. However, 6MWT has some limitations, especially the fact that it requires a corridor of at least 30 meters long to perform this test which can limit its use in some centers. Shorter corridors force patients to turn more frequently, slowing down the pace of walking that reduces potential walking distance. To overcome technical and spatial limitations, 6-minute stepper test (6MST) has been proposed to evaluate exercise capacity. In the literature 6MST has been suggested for a variety of diseases. Since, it requires only a limited amount of space and equipment and is feasible, easy to perform, well tolerated.Objectives:In the literature, there is no study in which 6MST is used to evaluate exercise capacities of patients with AS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate validity of 6MST in AS population in comparison to 6MWT.Methods:6MWT and 6MST were performed in 51 patients with AS (52.26±13.33 years, 30F/21M). Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Functional exercise capacity was evaluated using 6MWT and 6MST. The total distance of 6MWT was compared to the total number of steps of 6MST. Before, during and after 6MWT and 6MST, heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), breathing frequency (BF), blood pressure (BP), dyspnea and fatigue were assessed using modified Borg scale.Results:The number of steps on the 6MST was significantly correlated with the distance of the 6MWT (r=0.61, p<0.0001). Dyspnea (p=0.04) and leg fatigue (p<0.0001) was significantly higher in 6MST than in 6MWT. HR, SpO2, BF, BP and fatigue were similar in both 6MST and 6MWT.Conclusion:The 6MST is a valid test to evaluate exercise capacity in patients with AS. It is also an appropriate alternative to the 6MWT for determining exercise capacity when the 6MWT is not feasible due to technical restrictions. The 6MST can be proposed as a new exercise capacity evaluation tool in AS, as it is valid, reliable, portable and inexpensive.References:[1]van der Esch, Martin, et al. Respiratory muscle performance as a possible determinant of exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 2004;50(1):41-46.[2]ATS Committee on Proficiency Standards for Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratories. ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002;166(1):111–117.[3]Grosbois JM, Riquier C, Chehere B, et al. Six-minute stepper test: a valid clinical exercise tolerance test for COPD patients. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2016;11:657–663.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 40-40
Author(s):  
Peter Odion Ubuane ◽  
Barakat Adeola Animasahun ◽  
Olufunke Adewumi Ajiboye ◽  
Mogbafolu Olugbemiga Kayode-Awe ◽  
Omotola Aderiyike Ajayi ◽  
...  

CHEST Journal ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 620B
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Cartaxo ◽  
Francisco S. Vargas ◽  
Eduardo H. Genofre ◽  
Roberto Onishi ◽  
Frederico L. Fernandes ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 204589402098843
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Swiatek ◽  
Charnetta Lester ◽  
Nicole Ng ◽  
Saahil Golia ◽  
Janet Pinson ◽  
...  

Our objective was to establish the impact of wearing a face mask on the outcome of six-minute walk test in healthy volunteers. In a study of 20 healthy volunteers who each completed two 6MWTs, one with a mask and one without, there was no difference in distance walked. However, there was a significant difference in perception of dyspnea between the two groups.


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