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Twelve-minute walking test for assessing disability in chronic bronchitis
British Medical Journal
|April 3, 1976
Summary
The 12-minute walk test effectively measures exercise tolerance and everyday disability in chronic bronchitis patients. It correlates with lung function and oxygen consumption, offering a practical assessment tool.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Chronic bronchitis significantly impairs exercise tolerance and daily functioning.
- Objective measures of disability are crucial for managing chronic bronchitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 12-minute walk test (12MWT) as a measure of exercise tolerance in chronic bronchitis.
- To assess the correlation between 12MWT distance and established pulmonary function parameters.
Main Methods:
- Participants with chronic bronchitis performed a 12-minute walk test.
- 12MWT distance was compared with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) measured via bicycle ergometry.
Main Results:
- 12MWT distance showed a weak correlation with FEV1.
- A significant positive correlation was found between 12MWT distance and FVC.
- 12MWT distance was also significantly related to maximal oxygen consumption and ventilation during ergometry.
Conclusions:
- The 12-minute walk test is a simple, practical tool for assessing exercise capacity in chronic bronchitis.
- 12MWT performance reflects functional limitations and may serve as a guide to everyday disability in this patient population.