TITLE:
Six-Minute Walk Test in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
AUTHORS:
Sandor Balsamo, Ana Paula Monteiro Gomides, Licia Maria Henrique da Mota, Frederico Santos de Santana, Raphaela Franco Miranda, Talita Yokoy, Luciana Muniz, Leopoldo Luiz Santos-Neto
KEYWORDS:
6-Minute Walk Test, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Functional Capacity, Physical Capacity, Cardiorespiratory Capacity, Person Performed
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.9 No.1,
February
27,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: The 6-minute walk test (6TC) was initially used as an instrument
for assessing physical and cardiorespiratory capacity, but is currently
being used to monitor treatments, and compare physical interventions and
prognostic evaluation. Although already recognized as a research method in
several specialties, 6TC has not been used in rheumatology. Patients with
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have impaired functional capacity as well as
increased cardiovascular mortality. An adequate functional evaluation of
these patients is necessary and the 6TC may be useful in this sense. Objective:
The aim of this study was to perform the 6-minute walk test in RA patients
and to compare the performance with a control group. Method: A
cross-sectional study was carried out in which the sample consisted of 85
women, 46 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 39 healthy controls. A descriptive
analysis of the data was performed. One-Way ANOVA methodology
was used to compare the patient and control groups followed by the graphic
analysis. Results: The distance walked on the 6TC by RA patients was on average
522.2 meters. In the distance control group found in the 6TC was on
average 628.8 meters, the difference being statistically significant. Conclusion:
In this study the distance covered in 6TC by women with RA was lower
than that of healthy women of the same age.