Analysis and correlation of the Six-Minute Walk Test and Two-Minute Step Test in an elderly population participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program

Abstract

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) and two-minute step test (2MST) are submaximal tests widely used in the elderly population functional capacity evaluation. Objective: To investigate whether the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program was able to promote an increase in these tests and if there was an association between them; and to compare the hemodynamic stress caused by each of the tests. Methods: Retrospective, observational study in elderly participants in CR program. 24 elderly people were evaluated and classified according to the Fried frailty phenotype. The 6MWT and the 2MST were applied, observing the mean distance walked and the number of steps performed, respectively, as well as the double cardiac product (DP) at the beginning and after 4 months of the CR program. Results: There was an increase of 57 meters in the mean distance covered by the 6MWT (364.31±108.01 vs. 421.65±108.73, P<0.001) and 14 steps performed in the 2MST (62.17±22.50 vs. 76.17±25.56, P= 0.011) after 4 months of CR and we found a significant correlation between the tests and their results (P <0.001). When comparing the DP, both tests had a significant reduction (14469.92±2497.91 vs. 13348.21±2839.36, P= 0.022 and 15744.17±3591.87 vs. 13222.29±2505.39, P<0.001; respectively). Conclusion: A relationship between the number of steps performed in the 2MST with the mean distance covered of 6MWT suggest the use of them as an effective indicator in CR program and the association between them offers greater possibilities for treatment and evaluation of an elderly population.