European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

6 MINUTE WALK TEST FOR ASSESSMENT OF SEVERITY OF COPD PATIENTS

Ramabhai Chaudhari, Pritesh Makwana, Umesh Solanki, Abhishek Vadher*, Jagruti Chandpa, Siddharth Madhad, Maulik Sakhavala and Rono Korra

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Six minute walk text is a common test that is used by many physicians in India for cardiopulmonary assessment. It is a simple bedside test. It is sub-maximal test which can be used as a clinical indicator for the severity of disease. In this study, we tried to find a co-relation between 6 minute walk test and spirometry for COPD patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 128 patients who were diagnosed with COPD (Gold criteria). The patients with cardiac conditions, TB, other pulmonary infections, interstitial lung diseases, chronic kidney disease etc were excluded from the study. Spirometry with FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC were tested in all patients. 6 minute walk test was then performed in all patients. Whole data was analysed statically. Results: there is a positive co-relation between 6 minute walk test distance and FEV1 and 6 min walk test distance(r=0.890) and FEV1/FVC(r=0.870). (p value<0.001) With a reduction in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, there is a reduction in the distance travelled by the patient showing that there is a positive correlation between. Conclusion: In chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, there is a statistical significance between 6 minute walk test and spirometry parameters. With decline in pulmonary function, there is a decrease in 6 minute walk test and hence spirometry can be 6 minute walk test for assessment of severity of COPD.

Keywords: FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC.