O trabalho de caminhada dos seis minutos não se correlaciona com o grau de obstrução do fluxo aéreo em doentes portadores de Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crónica (DPOC)

Abstract

Introduction: The six-minute walking test distance, despite being considered the main parameter, does not consider body weight which is known to influence exercise capacity. A body of evidence shows the degree of airflow obstruction does not correlate to walking distance and the body weight affects the work/energy required to perform the walk.Objective: To verify if the degree of airflow obstruction correlates to six-minute walk work obtained by weight – walking distance product. Patient and methods: A total of 60 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were evaluated. The physiological and functional variables were correlated to distance and body weight – walking distance product (WxW).Results: There were no correlations between sixminute walk work and the degree of airflow obstruction. A positive and significant correlation were observed between the distance and Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity (DLCO) (r=0.6; p<0.01) and between the distance and final SatO2 (r=0.3; p <0.05). Correlation between distance and Borg scale was negative and significant (r=–0.3; p<0.05). The six-minute walk work was positive and significantly correlated to DLCO (r=0.7; p<0.01) and negative but significantly correlated to Borg scale in the initial (r=- 0.3; p<0.01) and final of the test (r=-0.4; p<0.05).Conclusion: Based on this data, there was no correlation between the degree of airflow obstruction and six-minute walk work test. The DLCO was the only respiratory functional parameter significantly correlated to the distance and to the sixminute walk work.Rev Port Pneumol 2006; XII (3): 241-253