Division of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Int J Rheum Dis. 2011 Oct;14(4):379-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1756-185X.2011.01672.x. Epub 2011 Sep 21.
The six minute walk test (6MWT) is used for the assessment of functional capacity in pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is the most common cardiac abnormality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to define the effect of LVDD on 6MWT parameters in patients with SSc.
We studied 45 (female : male 40 : 5) SSc patients. Patients with obvious conditions that can affect 6MWT distance (6MWD) were excluded. All subjects were evaluated by 6MWT. Additionally, 6MWD of the participants was calculated as the percentage of normal predicted values. LVDD was assessed by using echocardiographic findings and classified into three categories: impaired relaxation, pseudonormal or restrictive.
There were 12 (27%) patients with LVDD. SSc patients with LVDD were older than SSc patients without LVDD (50 ± 12 years vs. 41 ± 10 years; P = 0.017). In all, the mean 6MWD was 487.9 ± 98.3 m. The 6MWD was shorter in SSc patients with LVDD as compared to those without LVDD (438.0 ± 94.7 m vs. 506.0 ± 94.5 m; P = 0.039). There was significant difference between the groups regarding the percentage of the predicted 6MWD (74.1 ± 10.1%vs. 82.8 ± 13.1%; P = 0.041).
The presence of LVDD alters 6MWD in SSc patients. Reduction of 6MWD in a patient with SSc should prompt the investigation of LVDD.
六分钟步行试验（6MWT）用于评估肺部和心血管疾病的功能能力。左心室舒张功能障碍（LVDD）是系统性硬化症（SSc）中最常见的心脏异常。本研究旨在确定 LVDD 对 SSc 患者 6MWT 参数的影响。
我们研究了 45 名（女性：男性 40:5）SSc 患者。排除明显影响 6MWT 距离（6MWD）的患者。所有患者均进行了 6MWT 评估。此外，根据超声心动图结果将参与者的 6MWD 计算为正常预测值的百分比。LVDD 通过超声心动图发现进行评估，并分为三类：松弛不良、假性正常或限制型。
共有 12 名（27%）患者存在 LVDD。LVDD 的 SSc 患者比没有 LVDD 的 SSc 患者年龄更大（50±12 岁比 41±10 岁；P=0.017）。6MWD 的平均值为 487.9±98.3m。与没有 LVDD 的 SSc 患者相比，LVDD 的 SSc 患者的 6MWD 更短（438.0±94.7m 比 506.0±94.5m；P=0.039）。两组之间关于预测 6MWD 的百分比存在显著差异（74.1±10.1%比 82.8±13.1%；P=0.041）。
LVDD 的存在改变了 SSc 患者的 6MWD。SSc 患者的 6MWD 降低应促使对 LVDD 的调查。
