title: Comparison between the 6-minute walk tests performed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at different altitudes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of the altitude on the 6-minute walking test in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients performed the 6-minute walk test at a pulmonary rehabilitation clinic in Santo André (above sea level), in São Paulo State, and at the Enseada Beach, in Guarujá (at sea level), also in São Paulo State. Of these 29 patients, 8 did the test both on hard sand and on asphalt to analyze if there were differences in performance during the tests. Data such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, test distance, and Borg scale were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no statistical difference in relation to oxygen saturation at rest before the beginning of the walking test in Santo André 94.67±2.26% and at sea level 95.56±2% (p=0.71). The minimum saturation measured during the test was 87.27±6.54% in Santo André and 89.10±5.41% in Guarujá (p=0.098). There were no differences in the performed distance between the different kinds of terrains; the distance on sand was 387.75±5.02m and on asphalt it was 375.00±6.54m (p=0.654). Regarding oxygen saturation during walking, the pulse oximetry on sand was 95.12±1.80% and on asphalt it was 96.87±1.64% (p=1.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Altitude did not affect the performance of the walking test in patients with moderate to severe pulmonary disease and the results were similar in both cases, on sand and on asphalt.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Selma Denis
authors: SD
authors: Squassoni
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Nadine Cristina
authors: NC
authors: Machado
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Mônica Silveira
authors: MS
authors: Lapa
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Priscila Kessar
authors: PK
authors: Cordoni
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Luciene Costa
authors: LC
authors: Bortolassi
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Juliana Nascimento de
authors: JN
authors: Oliveira
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Cecilia Melo Rosa
authors: CM
authors: Tavares
authors: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors: Elie
authors: E
authors: Fiss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
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