Authors (including presenting author) :
Lui SR(1), Chu KL(1), Lee YS(1), Mo KC(1), Yam TF(1), Choi CM(1), Tsang HC(1), To YL(1), Sun TF(2)
Affiliation :
(1)Physiotherapy Department, North District Hospital (2)Hospital Chief Executive Office, North District Hospital
Introduction :
6-minute walk test (6MWT) is one of the most commonly used assessment tools to evaluate exercise tolerance in patients with cardiopulmonary disease such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). A set of reference values of 6MWT results could be helpful in quantifying the functional exercise capacity of the patients in a local population.
Objectives :
To establish the local reference values of the 6MWT results in patients with COPD.
Methodology :
Data of 538 patients with COPD under the care of North District Hospital were retrieved. In this study, demographic characteristics such as gender and age were collected. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were also retrieved and analyzed.
Result & Outcome :
Results & Outcomes:
The sample consisted of 443 males and 95 females, classified in different age groups (age 61-65, 66-70, 71-75, 76-80, 81-85, 86 or above) and GOLD stages (1, 2, 3, 4). The highest mean 6MWD was found in the least severe COPD group (322m) and the second youngest group (297m).
The mean 6MWD according to GOLD stage 1 to 4 were 322m, 292m, 264m and 213m respectively. 6MWD decreased as the severity of COPD increased. The mean 6MWD among different age groups were 294m (age 61-65), 297m (age 66-70), 269m (age 71-75), 257m (age 76-80), 257m (age 81-85) and 209m (age 86 or above) respectively. 6MWD decreased with increasing age except for the youngest group.
Conclusion:
The present study reflects the general performance of 6MWT among local patients with COPD. Future study of larger sample size, taking into account of the subjects’ comorbidities, body weight and height could be considered so as to generate more reliable norms of 6MWD for patients with COPD in the local community.
