Relationship Between Novel Parameters of Six-Minute Walk test and Respiratory Parameters in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease

Abstract

Background and Aim: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is used to measure exercise capacity and assess prognosis
in interstitial lung disease (ILD). In this study we aim to evaluate the correlation of outcomes of 6MWT with
spirometry variables and DLCO in patients with interstitial lung diseases thereby corroborating 6MWT as reliable
marker of functional assessment of ILD.
Material and Methods: It is a hospital based descriptive observational study conducted over a period of one
year. The study population comprises of 100 patients of interstitial lung disease who attended pulmonary clinic at
Tertiary care Hospital of India. The information on sociodemographic status including age, sex, religion, occupation
and residential place were noted. Further clinical assessment, lab investigations, radiographs, pulmonary function
tests and 6 minute walk test were done the data was then subjected to statistical analysis.
Results: The percentage predicted mean values for FEV1 and FVC are 1.90 (0.75) and 1.50 (0.60). Out of all 100
patients, 6MWD had a statistically significant negative correlation with age and statistically significant positive
correlation with the height of the patient. Also 6MWD had positive correlation with weight (r-0.02) but thus cant
correlation was not statistically significant. Borg scale dyspnoea had non-significant correlation with age, height
and weight but had a statistically negative correlation with FVC and DLCO while it had a statistically significant
positive correlation with FEV1.
Conclusion: The conclusion drawn from our study is to emphasize the importance of six minute walk test in
patients of ILD by virtue of its strong correlation with many of the objective parameters for detecting the functional
status like spirometry variables and DLCO.