The six-minute walk test in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a useful tool to assess prognosis and functional impairment in various pulmonary diseases.<b> Aims: </b> To evaluate functional capacity during various stages of pulmonary sarcoidosis and develop a scoring system clinical radiological physiological score (CRP) that can potentially be used to assess the functional status among patients with sarcoidosis.<b> Materials and Methods:</b> We performed a retrospective study on 26 patients diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis from 2001 to 2007. All patients completed the 6MWT. The parameters assessed during the test included spirometry, arterial blood gas, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), Borg dyspnea score, and initial and end oxygen saturation. <b> Results:</b> Females covered a significantly shorter distance than males (343 m (223-389) vs. 416.5 m (352-500); <i> P </i> &lt; 0.0001). In addition, females had a significantly lower SpO₂ at the end of the 6MWT than males (90.5 (61-99) vs. 96 (75-98); <i> P</i> &lt; 0.03). The 6MWD was inversely correlated with the final Borg score (r = &#8722;0.603, <i> P</i> = 0.004) and the CRP score (r = -0.364, <i> P</i> = 0.047) and positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁ ) &#x0025; (r = 0.524, <i> P</i> = 0.006) and forced vital capacity (FVC) &#x0025; (r = 0.407, <i> P</i> = 0.039). <b> Conclusions:</b> Female gender, FEV₁ &#x0025;, final Borg score, FVC&#x0025;, CRP score, and SpO₂ at the end of the 6MWT are associated with reduced 6MWD. It appears that Saudi patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis have a markedly reduced walking distance compared with other races. The effect of race and ethnicity and the utility of the CRP score as a potential marker to assess functional status require further exploration