title: Prognostic value of the six-minute walk test in end-stage renal disease life expectancy: a prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The six-minute walk test has been widely used to evaluate functional capacity and predict mortality in several populations. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the six-minute walk test for the life expectancy of end-stage renal disease patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients over 18 years old who underwent hemodialysis for at least six months were included. Patients with hemodynamic instability, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, physical incapacity and acute myocardial stroke in the preceding three months were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two patients (54% males; 36+11 years old) were followed for 144 months. The distance walked in the six-minute walk test was a survival predictor for end-stage renal disease patients. In the multivariate analysis, for each 100 meters walked with a 100-meter increment, the hazard ratio was 0.53, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.37-0.74. There was a positive correlation between the distance walked in the six-minute walk test and peak oxygen consumption (r = 0.508). In the multivariate analysis, each year of dialysis treatment represented a 10% increase in death probability; in the severity index analysis, each point on the scale represented an 11% increase in the death risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed that survival increased approximately 5% for every 100 meters walked in the six-minute walk test, demonstrating that the test is a viable option for evaluating the functional capacity in patients with end-stage renal disease.
authors: Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul, University Foundation of Cardiology, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Leandro de Moraes
authors: Lde M
authors: Kohl
authors: Luis Ulisses
authors: LU
authors: Signori
authors: Rodrigo Antonini
authors: RA
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Antonio Marcos Vargas
authors: AM
authors: Silva
authors: Paulo Ricardo
authors: PR
authors: Moreira
authors: Thiago
authors: T
authors: Dipp
authors: Graciele
authors: G
authors: Sbruzzi
authors: Janice Luisa
authors: JL
authors: Lukrafka
authors: Rodrigo Della Méa
authors: RD
authors: Plentz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*