Study Of Relationship Between The Six Minute Walk Test And Lung Function And Quality Of Life For Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective To study the relationship between the6minute walk test (6MWT) and lung function, quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods COPD group and the control group were made up of38patients with COPD and38healthy volunteers respectively. The walking distance in6MWT was measured. Pulse oxygen saturation were measured before and after testing and the fraction of pulse oxygen saturation was calculated. Lung function was measured in all subjects and the St. George’s respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) was tested in patients with COPD.Results In the COPD group, the6minute walk distance (6MWD)(422.76m±88.61m) was significantly shorter (P<0.01) and the fraction of pulse oxygen saturation (3.13%±6.18%) was significantly larger (P<0.05) when compared with those of the control group (6MWD557.82m±89.61m). whose fraction of pulse oxygen saturation was (0.46%±1.07%). Pearson correlation analysis showed that6MWD was significantly positvely correlated with predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%)(r=0.39,P=0.02), forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV,/FVC)(r=0.33, P=0.04), and significantly negatively correlated with SGRQ total score(r=-0.59, P=0.00), activity section score(r=-0.74, P=0.00) and impacts section score(r=-0.44, P=0,005). Moreover, the fraction of pulse oxygen saturation was significantly negatively correlated with FEV,/FVC(r=-0.50, P=0.002) in the COPD group.While, the control group did not shown significant correlation. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, height, weight. FEV1%, SGRQ total score and activity section score influenced6MWD in the COPD group together, but only age, height, weight influenced influenced6MWD in the control group together.Conclusion6MWT. which is correlated with lung function and quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can be one of methods to assess the condition of COPD patients during the long-term treatment.