PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Raquel Rosa
AU  - Ana Sofia Santos
AU  - Ricardo Coelho
AU  - Dionísio Maia
AU  - Alexandra Borba
AU  - Inês Gonçalves
AU  - João Cardoso
TI  - The relation of six-minute walk test and lung function in interstitial lung disease
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2353
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2353.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2353.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Introduction: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used in evaluating patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). However studies relating 6MWT and pulmonary function tests (PFT) of these patients are scarce.Aim: To evaluate the relation between walk distance (6MWTD), oxygen desaturation (ΔSO2) and breathlessness perception during 6MWT and PFT in ILD patients.Methods: Seventy ILD patients were included (mostly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO) were measured and expressed as percent predicted. A 6MWT was performed in accordance with international recommendations. The 6MWTD, ΔSO2 and Borg Dyspnea Index (BDI) were recorded. Means with standard deviations were calculated for the PFT and 6MWT indices. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied. Values of p<0.05 were considered significant.Results: The mean 6MWTD was 448 meters (±90). Mean baseline oxygen saturation was 96% and mean ΔSO2 was 7.7% (±6.3). We found a correlation between the 6MWTD and DLCO (r=0.24; p=0.04) and between ΔSO2 and FVC, FEV1, TLC, DLCO and KCO (r=-0.47, -0.46, -0.45, -0.59, -0.44, respectively; p=0.00). A correlation was evident between post 6MWT BDI and DLCO (r=-0.25; p=0.04) and KCO (r=-0.32; p=0.01).Conclusion: We found a stronger correlation between ΔSO2 and DLCO. The other correlations found were also significant and support the 6MWT as a tool for the functional and clinical assessment of ILD patients.