Authors : Anil Kumar K, Anil Kumar K, Prasanna Purna K, Prasanna Purna K, Surekha T, Surekha T, Mohan Prathyusha, Mohan Prathyusha
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijirm.2019.019
Volume : 4
Issue : 2
Year : 2019
Page No : 82-85
Background: 6 minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple routine exercise test. This test provides information about functional capacity of COPD patients. Though 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) is most commonly used outcome measure, it is influenced by various physical factors like body weight. So, we tried to assess the correlation between 6 minute walk work (6MWW) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC).
Methodology: A cross sectional study done at a tertiary care hospital in Nellore. Institutional ethical committee approved the study. All patients with COPD attending Respiratory medicine OPD were recruited. Detailed history was taken and physical examination was done after taking informed consent. Patients underwent chest x-ray, Arterial blood gas analysis, Electrocardiogram, Transthoracic 2-D Echo, Spirometry and 6 MWT. Data was analysed using MS Excel 2007.
Results: Total of 154 subjects were included.122 were males and 32 were females. 49(31.81%) walked a distance of ? 350 meters, 91(59.09%) walked ? 250 to 349 meters, and 14(9.09%) walked < 250meters> 22000kg.m, 32(20.77%) had ?15000kg.m, 90(58.44%) had 15001-22000kg.m. 6MWW correlated better with FEV1 and FVC.
Conclusions: 6MWW is a better outcome measure of 6MWT and can be used to assess functional capacity of COPD patients and monitoring where spirometry cannot be done.
Keywords: Six minute walk work, Six minute walk distance, Forced expiratory volume in 1 second, Forced vital capacity, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.