Is the six-minute walk test correlated with disease control and quality of life in children with asthma?

Authors: HASAN YÜKSEL, ÖZGE YILMAZ, BÜLENT GÖKŞEN, SENEM ÜSTÜN, AYHAN SÖĞÜT

Abstract: To evaluate the changes in a 6-min walk test (6MWT) and quality of life (QoL) before and after asthma control is achieved in children. A 6MWT is used in the determination of disease severity in many chronic childhood diseases. Materials and methods: Thirty-six asthmatic children, aged 6 to 15 years, were enrolled before asthma control was achieved. Disease severity parameters during the previous 3 months were recorded. All of the children completed an asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) and received a symptom score; a 6MWT was performed during enrollment and 1 month later, when asthma control was achieved. Results: The initial and follow-up mean 6MWT distances were 500.2 ± 139.1 and 577.8 ± 147.9 m, respectively (P < 0.001). The 6MWT distances and ACQ scores were significantly correlated initially (rho = -0.35, P = 0.04). The 6MWT distance was not correlated with clinical parameters (P > 0.05 for all). The initial ACQ score was significantly correlated with the symptom score and duration of asthma (rho = 0.62 vs. rho = -0.37). Conclusion: A 6MWT may be used in the functional assessment of children with uncontrolled asthma; it correlates with ACQ scores. The absence of a correlation between the 6MWT and patient-reported symptom severity or other clinical parameters may indicate the necessity to include a functional assessment into the clinical evaluation as well as QoL measures.

Keywords: Asthma, six-minute walk test, asthma control, child

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