title: Six-minute walk test as an outcome measure: are two six-minute walk tests necessary immediately after pulmonary rehabilitation and at three-month follow-up?
abstract: A 3-mo prospective, longitudinal, repeated-measures study was undertaken in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study aimed to determine whether there was a difference in 6-min walk distance (6MWD) when two 6-min walk tests were performed after pulmonary rehabilitation (n = 44) and at 3-mo follow-up (n = 40), and whether the results reflected the program outcomes. There was a significant increase in 6MWD between two 6-min walk tests before rehabilitation (P < 0.001), and at 3-mo follow-up (P < 0.001), but not immediately after rehabilitation (P = 0.1). In terms of program outcomes, there was an increase in 6MWD from before to after pulmonary rehabilitation (P < 0.001); however, the increase was greater if the better of two tests was reported. Six-minute walk tests performed twice before and after pulmonary rehabilitation programs and at 3-mo follow-up assessments ensure accuracy of measurement of the 6MWD and program outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Lissa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alison
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: McKeough
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome