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Int J Sports Med 2013; 34(07): 631-636
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1323746
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Validity of the Six-Minute Walk Test in Cancer Patients

K. Schmidt
1   Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
,
L. Vogt
1   Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
,
C. Thiel
1   Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
,
E. Jäger
2   Department of Hematology and Oncology, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
,
W. Banzer
1   Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 31 July 2012

Publication Date:
26 February 2013 (online)

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Abstract

The present study evaluated the validity of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in cancer patients. 50 subjects (36 f, 14 m; 57.4±10.2 years; during (56%) or off (44%) cancer treatment) performed a 6MWT and a spiroergometry on a cycle ergo­meter (0+25 W, 3 min) to evaluate maximum exercise capacity (VO2peak). A subsample (n=30) completed a retest of the 6MWT within 2–7 days. Patients covered a distance of 594±81 m during 6MWT at an average intensity of 86.3±9.6% of HRmax and achieved a VO2peak of 21.2±4.86 ml · kg − 1 · min − 1 during cycle ergometry. The distance walked correlated significantly (p<0.001) with VO2peak (r=0.67) and perceived physical function (EORTC QLQ-C30 physical function subscale) (r=0.55). Concerning reliability the intraclass correlation coefficient was r=0.93 (95%CI: +0.86;+0.97; p<0.001) and the coefficient of variation 3%. During retest participants walked 3.1% (95%CI: +1.1; +5.2) farther and achieved a higher RPE (+1.0; 95%CI: +0.3;+1.8). Limits of agreement were between  − 43.1 and 76.4 m. In cancer patients the 6MWT seems to be as valid and reliable as in healthy elderly, cardiac and pulmonary patients. Thus, it can be recommended for use in cancer patients.

Key words

reliability - validity - 6MWT - cancer - evaluation of physical ­function
 

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