6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Main Article Content

Simaporn Promsarn
Watcharaporn Butrakhum

Abstract

The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a simple and popular pulmonary function examination which can be used to compare before and after treatment for diseases related to the respiratory system, heart system, and circulatory system. It can also be used to test the performance of elderly patients. The novel corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) is a new disease which can infect people through secretions via the nose or mouth of infected individuals and has become a global pandemic. Certain physical characteristics, such as being unable to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) are at high risk of infection or spread of the disease, which can affect the efficiency of testing for the disease. Test takers and pulmonary examination officers should strictly follow disease prevention and test measures before, during, and after the test to prevent spreading the virus and becoming infected. In addition, this serves to maintain the quality of test information for further treatment.

Article Details

How to Cite
1.
Promsarn S, Butrakhum W. 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Siriraj Med Bull [Internet]. 2021 Jan. 4 [cited 2024 Jul. 27];14(1):57-63. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/simedbull/article/view/244465
Section
Review Article

References

1. World Health Organization. WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard.[Internet]. 2020. [cited August 18, 2020]; Available from: https://covid19.who.int/
2. The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand. Medical practice guidelines for medical procedures in COVID-19 outbreak.[Internet].[cited June 30, 2020]; Available from: http://www.rcpt.org/images/2020/covid19/handout_medical_covid-19.pdf
3. ATS Statement:Guidelines for the Six-Minute Walk Test.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.;166:111-117.
4. Association for Respiratory Technology & Physiology. Covid19 Infection Control Issues for Lung Function. [Internet]. 2020. [cited June 13, 2020]; Available from: https://www.artp.org.uk/write/MediaUploads/Standards/COVID19/ARTP_COVID19_Infection_Control_Issues_for_Lung_Function.pdf
5. Jeffrey G Demain. Spirometry During Covid-19. [Internet]. 2020. [cited June 13, 2020]; Available from: https://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/spirometry
6. Meredith C. McCormack. Pulmonary Function Laboratories: Advice Regarding COVID-19. The American Thoracic Society. [Internet]. 2020. [cited June 13, 2020]; Available from: https://www.thoracic.org/professionals/clinical-resources/disease-related-resources/pulmonary-function-laboratories.php
7. Thoracic Society of Thailand under Royal Patronage. Summary of recommendations for care of patients with respiratory Diseases in COVID-19 outbreak. [Internet]. 2020. [cited June 13, 2020]; Available from: https://www.thoracicsocietythai.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TST-assembly-recommendations.pdf
8. Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases. Guideline to improving air quality in hospitals. [Internet]. 2019. [cited June 17, 2020]; Available from:http://bamras.ddc.moph.go.th/userfiles/23_compressed.pdf
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities. [Internet]. 2019. [cited June 17, 2020]; Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/environmental-guidelines-P.pdf
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities. MMWR 1994;43(No. RR-13):1–132.
11. Rhame FS. Endemic Nosocomial Filamentous Fungal Disease: A Proposed Structure for Conceptualizing and Studying the Environmental Hazard. Infect Control 1986;7S:124–125.
12. G. Kampf, D. Todt, S. Pfaender, E. Steinmann. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. Journal of Hospital Infection 2020;104.246-251
13. The CHEST Foundation. 6-Minute Walk Test. [Internet]. 2020.[cited July 3, 2020]; Available from: https://foundation.chestnet.org/lung-health-a-z/6-minute-walk-test/
14. The Infectious Disease Association of Thailand. Tips for using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). [Internet]. 2020. [cited June 13, 2020]; Available from: https://www.idthai.org/Contents/Views/?d=389R!67!1!!657!0baQvIns
15. Central ChestI nstitute of Thailand. Physical therapy guidelines for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease..[Internet]. 2016. [cited June 30, 2020]; Available from: https://www.ccit.go.th/lung/document/COPD+Home.pdf
16. Stephen J. Halliday, Li Wang, Chang Yu,et al..Six-minute walk distance in healthy young adults.Respiratory Medicine.2020;165:105933.DOI:10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105933.
17. Raymond C.C. Tsang.Reference Values for 6-Minute Walk Test and Hand-Grip Strength in Healthy Hong Kong Chinese Adults.Hong Kong Physiotherapy.2005;23:6-12.DOI:10.1016/S1013-7025(09)70053-3
18. Poh H, Eastwood PR, Cecins NM, Ho KT, Jenkins SC. Sixminute walk distance in healthy Singaporean adults cannot be predicted using reference equations derived from Caucasian populations. Respirology. 2006;11:211-6.
19. Enright PL, Sherrill DL. Reference equations for the sixminute walk in healthy adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;158:1384-1387.
20. Lusardi MM, Pellecchia GL, Schulman M. Functional Performance in Community Living Older Adults. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy. 2003;26:14-22.
21. Oliveira MJ, Marçôa R, Moutinho J, et al. Reference equations for the 6-minute walk distance in healthy Portuguese subjects 18-70 years old. Pulmonology. 2019;25(2):83-89. doi:10.1016/j.pulmoe.2018.04.003
22. Olufunke A. Ajiboye, Chikodi N. Anigbogu, Jane N. Ajuluchukwu,et al..Prediction equations for 6-minute walk distance in apparently healthy Nigerians.Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal.2014;32:65-72.DOI:10.1016/j.hkpj.2014.04.003
23. Balsamo S, Nascimento Dda C, Tibana RA, de Santana FS, da Mota LM, Dos Santos-Neto LL. The quality of life of patients with lupus erythematosus influences cardiovascular capacity in 6-minute walk test. Rev Bras Reumatol. 2013 Feb;53:75-87.
24. Breda CA, Rodacki AL, Leite N, Homann D, Goes SM, Stefanello JM. Physical activity level and physical performance in the 6-minute walk test in women with fibromyalgia. Rev Bras Reumatol. 2013;53:276-281.
25. Beekman E, Mesters I, Hendriks EJ, Klaassen MP, Gosselink R, van Schayck OC, et al. Course length of 30 metres versus 10 metres has a significant influence on sixminute walk distance in patients with COPD: an experimental crossover study. J Physiother. 2013;59:169-76.
26. Sciurba F, Criner GJ, Lee SM, Mohsenifar Z, Shade D, Slivka W, et al. Six-minute walk distance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: reproducibility and effect of walking course layout and length. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003; 167:1522-1527