Evaluating Six Minute Walk Test as a Tool to Assess the Severity of COPD
Author(s): Anand KR and Raja Amarnath G*
Abstract
This study focuses on 6MWT sensitive tool to assess the severity of COPD and it correlates well with the currently used severity index of FEV1%. Similarly, the CAT test also correlates well with FEV1% indicating that it is a better measure of the impact of COPD on the functional status of the individual. Moreover, both these test values correlate well with each other authenticating their use in clinical practice to assess the severity and determine the impact of disease among the COPD patients. The present study includes correlation between the distance covered in the 6- minute walk test (6MWT) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores among the study sample and also study was done to evaluate the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) as tool to assess severity of COPD based on spirometry and to study the correlation between the distance covered in the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score among 60 patients diagnosed with COPD.