Evaluation of the 4-meter gait speed (4mGS) in patients with interstitial pneumonia: a prospective observational study.

Abstract

Background: Usual gait speed over 4-meter (4mGS) is a simple functional performance measure in older adults. The reliability and validity of the 4mGS has recently been demonstrated in patients with COPD, but there are few data in interstitial pneumonia (IP). Object: To evaluate the correlation between the 4mGS and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in IP patients. Their underlying physiological factors were also examined. Method: In 52 IP patients, the 4mGS and 6MWT were prospectively performed. Other measurements included the health-related quality of life, modified Medical Research Council (MRC) score, arterial blood gas analyses, pulmonary function tests, muscle strength of skeletal muscle index, and physical activity. Result: 35 patients were male (68.6%) and 34 patients had IPF (66.7%). There was a significant correlation between the 4mGS and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) (r = 0.57, P Conclusions: The 4mGS was a simple and reliable measure for IP patients.