The determination of cut-off score in 6-minute pegboard and ring test

Abstract

Introduction: Lower and upper limb dysfunction has been shown to independently predict the long-term prognosis of COPD patients. The 6-minute pegboard and ring test (6PBRT) is a reliable method for the assessment of upper-extremity exercise performance in patients with COPD. However, 6PBRT has not a cut-off score for assessment exercise capacity in COPD.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine a cut-off score in 6PBRT based on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) which is regarded as the 'gold standard' for evaluating submaximal exercise testing in patients with COPD.

Methods: Forty-nine stable patients with COPD were participated in this study. Pulmonary function test was performed. Functional exercise capacity was evaluated by 6PBRT and 6MWT. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for determination a cut-off score for 6PBRT. When a significant cut-off value was observed, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were presented.

Results: Mean value of patients were 65.90 years for age, 54.16 for % FEV₁, 71.55 for %FVC, 58.20 for % FEV₁/FVC, 295.43 score for 6PBRT, and 416.57 m for walking distance. The area under the ROC curve was 0.725 (fair). If cut-off score is selected 271, sensitivity value is found 82.1% and specificity is found 52.4%. This variable is significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Optimal 6PBRT cut-off score was 271 in patients with COPD. 6PBRT may be used to determine exercise capacity, but it is not a priority test to determine the exercise capacity in patients with COPD.