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Measurement properties of the 6‐min walk test in individuals with exercise‐induced pulmonary arterial hypertension
Author(s) -
Fowler R. M.,
Jenkins S. C.,
Maiorana A. J.,
Gain K. R.,
O'Driscoll G.,
Gabbay E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2011.02501.x
Subject(s) - medicine , aerobic capacity , cardiology , aerobic exercise , cardiac output , vo2 max , pulmonary artery , pulmonary artery catheter , heart rate , hemodynamics , physical therapy , blood pressure
Background: Exercise‐induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (EIPAH) is associated with reduced peak exercise cardiac output (CO) and aerobic capacity (peak ). We investigated the validity of the encouraged 6‐min walk test (6MWT) to identify exercise limitation and estimate aerobic capacity in subjects with EIPAH. Methods: Seventeen subjects with EIPAH (56 ± 14 years, 15 women) and 20 healthy controls (57 ± 13 years, 19 women) underwent two encouraged 6MWTs and a symptom‐limited cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). To measure central haemodynamics, subjects with EIPAH performed the CPET with a pulmonary artery catheter in situ . Results: Compared with controls, subjects with EIPAH had reduced peak (1.2 ± 0.4 vs 1.7 ± 0.5, L/min, P < 0.01), 6‐min walk distance (6MWD) (575 ± 86 vs 669 ± 76 m, P < 0.001) and 6‐min walk work (6MWW) (39 ± 11 vs 45 ± 7 km.kg, P < 0.01). In subjects with EIPAH, there was a moderate correlation between 6MWD and peak ( r = 0.72, P < 0.01) and a strong correlation between 6MWW and peak ( r = 0.86, P < 0.001). There were significant correlations between 6MWD and peak CO ( r = 0.59, P < 0.05), and between peak and peak CO ( r = 0.55, P < 0.05). Peak heart rate was similar in the CPET and 6MWT in subjects with EIPAH (133 ± 15 vs 133 ± 19 beats/min, P = 0.8). Conclusions: The encouraged 6MWT identifies reduced exercise capacity and provides a valid estimate of aerobic capacity in EIPAH.