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עמוד בית
Sat, 07.12.24

Original Articles

IMAJ | volume

Journal 7, July 2006
pages: 460-463

Assessment of Functional Capacity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Correlation between Cardiopulmonary Exercise, 6 Minute Walk and 15 Step Exercise Oximetry Tests

    Summary

     Background: Different exercise tests are used to evaluate the functional capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The cardiopulmonary exercise test is considered the gold standard, but the 6 minute walk and the 15 step exercise oximetry tests are considerably less expensive.

    Objectives: To determine whether reliable data could be obtained at lower cost.

    Methods: The study sample consisted of 50 patients with mild to severe stable COPD]1[. All underwent pulmonary function test and the cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6 minute walk and 15 step exercise oximetry test as part of their regular follow-up visit. Functional capacity was graded according to each test separately and the functional capacities obtained were correlated.

    Results: The results showed that most of the patients had severe COPD according to pulmonary function tests (mean forced expiratory volume in the first second 46.3 ± 19.9% of predicted value). There was a good correlation between the cardiopulmonary exercise test and the 6 minute walk functional capacity classes (r = 0.44, P = 0.0013). We did not find such correlation between the 15 step exercise oximetry test and the cardiopulmonary exercise test (r = 0.07, P = 0.64).

    Conclusions: The study shows that the 6 minute walk is a reliable and accurate test in the evaluation of functional capacity in COPD patients.

     

    [1] COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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