Effect of bariatric surgery on the six-minute walk test in severe uncomplicated obesity.
BACKGROUND
The six-minute walk test (6mWT) is a simple index of functional capacity in healthy people, and it has been used to estimate exercise capacity in obese subjects. The aim of this study was to determine whether weight reduction induced by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) improves the functional capacity in the severely obese on the 6mWT.


METHODS
A prospective 1-year study was carried out at the Hospital Casoria, Naples, involving 15 consecutive severely obese patients who underwent the 6mWT before and 1 year after LAGB. BMI, walking distance, heart rate, dyspnea, and respiratory function tests were also measured. Patients served as their own controls.


RESULTS
15 patients (all females) were evaluated. Mean BMI decreased from 42.1 (range 39-49) before to 31.9 (range 25-38) postoperatively. The distance walked increased from 475.7 meters (range 380-580) before LAGB to 626.3 meters (range 435-880) 1 year postoperatively (P < 0.0001), and the dyspnea score after the 6mWT was significantly reduced postoperatively. All functional variables after the 6mWT showed improvement postoperatively at 1 year study.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight reduction in the obese increases the functional capacity during walking. The improvements are refected in the patients' own assessment.
Maniscalco
Mauro
M
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital S. Maria della Pietà Casoria, Naples, Italy. mauronmaniscalco@hotmail.com
Zedda
Anna
A
Giardiello
Cristiano
C
Faraone
Stanislao
S
Cerbone
Maria Rosaria
MR
Cristiano
Stefano
S
Sofia
Matteo
M
D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D018579:Patient Selection; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies