PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Renata Ferrari
AU  - Suzana Tanni
AU  - Laura Caram
AU  - Corina Corrêa
AU  - Camila Corrêa
AU  - Liana Coelho
AU  - Irma Godoy
TI  - Predictors of six-minute walk distance at baseline and after three years in COPD patients
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p2995
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2995.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2995.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Association between six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and COPD systemic markers overtime is unclear. The aim of this study was to verify the predictors of 6MWD at baseline and after three years in 53 COPD patients (66% male, age= 63±9 years, FEV1=56±21%). The following evaluations were undertaken at baseline and after three years: body mass index (BMI), six-minute walk distance (6MWD), Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (MMRC) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Information on exacerbations was not available at baseline and was collected during the study period. At baseline, FEV1, MMRC, BMI, and IL-6 were included in a multiple linear regression analysis with the baseline 6MWD value as the dependent variable. After three years, we included the final values of the same variables with the final 6MWD value as the dependent outcome. In another model, we evaluated the influence of the number of exacerbations in the previous model. At baseline, FEV1 and IL-6 were selected as predictor of 6MWD (R2=0.44; p<0.001); however, after three years, only MMRC was selected as predictor of the walking distance (R2=0.54; p<0.001). The number of exacerbation did not influence 6MWD overtime. In conclusion, airway obstruction and inflammation are predictors of 6MWD at baseline. However, maintenance or improvement of exercise tolerance overtime in COPD patients is related to the control of dyspnea perception.Research supported by FAPESP (2010/08527-0). R. Ferrari is the recipient of a fellowship from FAPESP (2010/08557-6).