Comparison of 1-, 3-, and 6-Minute Walk Tests in the Post-lung Transplant Period

Abstract

Objective: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) values have an important role in pretransplant patient management, as they are an indicator of increased mortality in end-stage lung pa tients awaiting lung transplantation. However, there are not enough studies on the follow-up role of the 6MWT after lung transplantation. Although the 6MWT is widely used, it may not be an effective measure of functional endurance in some conditions and disease groups. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the classical distance covered in 6 min and the distance walked in the first 1 or 3 min. Methods: The study was compared with the preoperative 6MWT results and posttrans plant results of patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2016 and 2021. The correlations of distances traveled during posttransplantation at 1, 3, and 6 min were ana lyzed. The subjects who completed the 6MWT during the follow-up were included in the study. Results: There was a significant difference found between the pretransplantation 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and posttransplantation 6MWD in the sixth month. A strong corre lation between the distances of the 1-minute walk test (1MWT) and the 6MWT was found in the first month of posttransplantation. 1MWT and 3-minute walk test (3MWT) distances were significantly correlated with 6MWD in the sixth month posttransplantation. Conclusion: In the early posttransplantation period, 1MWT and 3MWT can be an alterna tive to the 6MWT to evaluate the functional status in this patient group.