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Vol. 41. Issue 11.
Pages 596-600 (November 2005)
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Vol. 41. Issue 11.
Pages 596-600 (November 2005)
Original Articles
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Efficacy of the 6-Minute Walk Test in Evaluating Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy
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F. Morante
Corresponding author
fmorante@hsp.santpau.es

Correspondence: Dra. E. Morante. Departament de Pneumologia. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau. Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167. 08025 Barcelona. España
, R. Güell, M. Mayos
Departament de Pneumologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
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Objective

TO compare oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) observed during the 6-minute walk test with that of pulse oximetry carried out during activities of daily living (ADLs). The efficacy of the 6-minute walk test for determining adequate oxygen flow to prevent arterial desaturation during ADLs was also analyzed.

Patients and methods

We studied 37 patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in 1 second, 26% (9%) of predicted—and compared SpO2 values obtained in the 6-minute walk test with those obtained with ambulatory pulse oximetry during ADLs. Eleven of the 20 patients with exercise-induced desaturation agreed to use portable liquid oxygen and were randomized to ambulatory pulse oximetry on 2 consecutive days, both with and without the administration of oxygen. Oxygen flow was adjusted on successive 6-minute walk tests until a mean SpO2 greater than 85% was reached.

Results

The mean SpO2for all patients was 84% (7%) during the 6-minute walk test and 89% (4%) during ADLs (P<.001). Cumulative percentages of time with SpO2 less than 90%, 88%, and 85% were higher during the 6-minute walk test than during ADLs (P<.001). During the walk test, desaturation was detected in 27% of patients, but was not confirmed by ambulatory pulse oximetry during ADLs. In the subgroup of 11 patients using portable liquid oxygen no significant differences were found between SpO2 values recorded during the walk test and during ADLs with the appropriate oxygen flow.

Conclusion

The 6-minute walk test is an effective method for detecting desaturation during ADLs and for establishing the oxygen flow needed to correct exercise-induced desaturation.

Key Words:
6-minute walk test
Ambulatory pulse oximetry
Portable liquid oxygen
COPD
Objetivo

Comparar la saturación de la oxihemoglobina (SpO2) observada durante la prueba de los 6 min de marcha (P6m) con la SpO2 de la pulsioximetría ambulatoria realiza-da durante las actividades de la vida diaria (AVD). Se anali-zó también la eficacia de la P6m en determinar el flujo de oxígeno adecuado para prevenir la desaturación arterial durante las AVD.

Pacientes y métodos

Se estudió a 37 pacientes diagnosti-cados de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica —valor medio (± desviación estándar) del volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo 26 ± 9% del valor de referencia— en los que se compararon los valores de SpO2 obtenidos en la P6m y la pulsioximetría ambulatoria. De los 20 pacientes con desaturación al esfuerzo, 11 aceptaron el oxígeno líquido portátil y realizaron la pulsioximetría ambulatoria de forma aleatoriza-da en 2 días consecutivos con y sin la administración de oxígeno. El flujo de oxígeno se estableció en la P6m con pruebas su-cesivas hasta lograr una SpO2 media superior al 85%.

Resultados

La SpO2 media en el total de pacientes fue del 84 ± 7% en la P6m y del 89 ± 4% en la pulsioximetría ambulatoria (p < 0,001). Los porcentajes de tiempo acumulado con SpO2 < del 90, del 88 y del 85% fueron superiores en la P6m (p < 0,001). Durante la P6m, en un 27% de los pacientes se detectó desaturación, que no se confirmó con la pulsioximetría ambulatoria. En el subgrupo de 11 pacientes no se obser-varon diferencias significativas entre la P6m y la pulsioximetría ambulatoria realizadas con el flujo de oxígeno ajustado.

Conclusión

La P6m es un método eficaz para detectar la desaturación durante las AVD y establecer el flujo de oxígeno para corregir la desaturación al esfuerzo.

Palabras clave:
Prueba de los 6 minutos de marcha
Pulsioximetría ambulatoria
Oxígeno líquido portátil
EPOC
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Copyright © 2005. Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR)
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