An initial assessment of the decline with age for the 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT) in Chinese older adults With Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Author(s)
Date Issued
2023
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation
Volume
5
Issue
2
Abstract
Objective
To establish an initial assessment of the decline with age for the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Chinese older adults.
Design
It was an observational analytical study.
Setting
The study was conducted in a local acute hospital.
Participants
From January 2017 to January 2021, a total of 525 patients (431 men, 94 women; mean age 73.4±7.9; N=525) with COPD were studied.
Main Outcome Measures
Information including sex, age, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages, and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were collected.
Results
The 6MWD was significantly decreased with increased age (P˂0.05). Mean 6MWD in the 61-65 years, 66-70 years, 71-75 years, 76-80 years, 81-85 years, and 86 years or above age groups were 301 m, 305 m, 274 m, 257 m, 260 m, and 215 m, respectively. The difference between the youngest and oldest age groups was 29%. The 6MWD was significantly lower in patients with more severe COPD (P˂0.05). The distance decreased from 317 m in GOLD 1, 306 m in GOLD 2, 259 m in GOLD 3 to 167 m in GOLD 4. The percentage dropped in 6MWD from GOLD 1 to GOLD 4 was 47%.
Conclusion
An initial assessment of the decline with age for 6MWT in Chinese older adults with COPD has been established. 6MWD decreases as age (in groups 66-75, 81-85, and 86 or above) and COPD severity increases, primarily because of the increased severity of dyspnea, decline in exercise capacity, and muscle changes in aging. Health care professionals in Chinese community can use these values to evaluate these patients’ functional capacity, assess treatment effect, and set treatment goals.
SFU Affiliated Publication
Yes
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