International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | January 2019 | Vol 7 | Issue 1 Page 34 International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences Hajare RB et al. Int J Res Med Sci. 2019 Jan;7(1):34-39 www.msjonline.org pISSN 2320-6071 | eISSN 2320-6012 Original Research Article Correlation between 6-minute walk distance and spirometry parameters in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients Ruchita B. Hajare 1 , Raziya Nagarwala 1 *, Ashok Shyam 2 , Parag Sancheti 3 INTRODUCTION Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing worldwide public health problem. COPD is determined as a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Numbers of people suffer from this disease for years and death occurs prematurely by its complications. COPD causes 2.7 lac deaths every year in India. Almost all forms of smoking products are significantly associated with COPD. In non-smokers, especially women, an exposure to biomass fuels, smoke is an important factor. 1 COPD is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and excessive mucus production. Exacerbations and comorbidities leads to overall severity and death in individual patients. Several other associated conditions such as increased systemic inflammation in early stages 1 Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiotherapy, Sancheti Institute College of Physiotherapy, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra, India 2 Consultant Orthopedic, Sancheti Institute of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra, India 3 Director, Sancheti Institute of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra, India Received: 01 November 2018 Accepted: 30 November 2018 *Correspondence: Dr. Raziya Nagarwala, E-mail: rnagarwala@yahoo.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Background: Six minute walk test (6MWT) is a sub-maximal exercise test, used as a clinical indicator of the functional capacity, in patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. It is simple, objective and reproducible test. The present study was designed to assess correlation of six minute walk test with spirometry parameters, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: In this cross sectional study, fifty patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD criteria) coming to tertiary center were recruited according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients underwent spirometric measurement. Spirometric indices including FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC and MVV were tested using computerized spirometer. 6MWT was performed following American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. Percent (%) predicted 6MWD was calculated. Correlation between spirometry and 6MWT was assessed. Results: It was found that correlation between 6MWT and spirometry is statistically significant. There is significant strong positive correlation between percent predicted 6MWD and FEV1 (r=0.850 and p= <0.001), whereas there is significant moderate correlation between percent predicted 6MWD and FVC (r=0.554 and p= <0.001), FEV1/FVC (r=0.509 and p= <0.001) and MVV (r=0.615 and p= <0.001). Conclusions: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, percent predicted 6mwd significantly correlated with the spirometry parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and MVV). 6MWD decreases as there is decline in the pulmonary function. 6MWT can be a useful replacement of spirometry in assessment of severity of COPD. Keywords: 6MWD, COPD, PFT DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20185359