The 6-minute walk test (TM6) could be replaced by pedometer monitoring. This is revealed by a study presented at the international congress of the ERS.
Six minutes. This is the time needed to assess the endurance capacity of people with heart or lung disease. Used to determine how far patients can walk in that amount of time, the “6-Minute Walk Test” (TM6) gauges the overall response of the cardiovascular, circulatory, pulmonary and muscular systems at a level of effort similar to that required for daily activities.
This standardized test requires the presence of a technician, who checks several parameters, such as blood pressure, saturation, heart rate and the level of dyspnea – that is to say the difficulty in breathing – as well as fatigue . In this sense, the TM6 can be restrictive since it is generally performed in the clinic.
“A cheaper and more convenient way than standardized tests”
Healthcare system researchers Intermountainbased in Salt Lake City, USA, could be a game-changer: they have demonstrated that steps measured by a pedometer worn on the wrist – such as Fitbit and Apple watches – can be used to estimate exercise capacity and determine the health status of patients.
“This means that we can follow their progress more frequently, in a less expensive and more practical way than standardized tests”, rejoices the doctor Denitza Blagev, in charge of the study, which was presented at the international congress of the European Society for Respiratory Diseases (RHS), which is being held in Madrid, Spain, until October 2.
Monitor disease progression at more frequent intervals
The trial was conducted for 12 weeks on 52 adult patients, some of whom had a history of respiratory problems during periods of high air pollution. In addition to wearing a wrist pedometer during these three months, participants completed questionnaires about their respiratory symptoms. Result: The researchers found that they could effectively estimate a patient’s 6-minute walk test results using pedometer measurements.
“Normally, the 6MMT is performed once or several times a year. Now we might be able to assess patients on a regular basis and know if we need to intervene if their estimated 6MMT changes, considers Denitza Blagev, who also points out the ability to monitor disease progression at more frequent intervals. This is a huge improvement and increased convenience for our patients.”
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