title: Repeated six-minute walk tests for outcome measurement and exercise prescription in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether repeated 6-minute walk tests (6MWTs) are required for outcome measurement and exercise prescription in a typical cardiac rehabilitation (CR) population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective longitudinal observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient community health center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one of 154 consecutive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  6MWTs (N = 2) were conducted at 3 assessment points: at CR start, postcompletion, and 6-months postcompletion.
  
  
  METHODS
  6MWT distance (6MWD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean 6MWD for the first (6MWT1) and second (6MWT2) 6MWTs at the 3 assessment points were 507 ± 85 (522 ± 84), 532 ± 86 (560 ± 87), and 549 ± 99 (575 ± 107)m. Repeated 6MWDs strongly correlated at each assessment point, with intraclass correlation coefficients of .96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-.98), .97 (95% CI, .92-.98), and .94 (95% CI, .89-.97), respectively. Relative increases in mean 6MWD from 6MWT1 to 6MWT2 at each assessment point were 3%, 5%, and 5%, respectively (P<.001 in each case). Differences in walking speed derived from 6MWD1 and 6MWD2 did not translate into differences in exercise prescription.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difference between 6MWD1 and 6MWD2 was consistent regardless of previous exposure to 6MWTs. A single 6MWT was as effective as 2 repeated 6MWTs for outcome measurement and exercise prescription. We therefore recommend that when 6MWDs are used for CR outcome measurement, either a single 6MWT be used or the number of 6MWTs performed be consistent at all assessment points.
authors: Physiotherapy Department, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Nicole_Bellet@health.qld.gov.au
authors: R Nicole
authors: RN
authors: Bellet
authors: Rebecca L
authors: RL
authors: Francis
authors: Justin S
authors: JS
authors: Jacob
authors: Karen M
authors: KM
authors: Healy
authors: Harold J
authors: HJ
authors: Bartlett
authors: Lewis
authors: L
authors: Adams
authors: Norman R
authors: NR
authors: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking