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Andersen LK1, Knak KL1, Witting N1, Vissing J1
1Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen, Denmark
Background: The 2- and 6-minute walk tests are used to evaluate walking capacity, but reliability has been sparsely investigated in patients with neuromuscular diseases.
Purpose: To investigate the relative and absolute reliability of the 2- and 6 minute walk tests in patients with neuromuscular diseases.
Methods: Each patient performed a 2- and a 6-minute walk test on 2 test days separated by 1-2 weeks.
Results: A total of 93 adult patients with 12 different neuromuscular diseases were included. The mean walking distance increased by 4.3 and 11.2 m in repeated 2- and 6-minute walk tests, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient in the 2- and 6-minute walk test was 0.99. Standard error of measurement was 4.9 m in the 2-minute walk test and 14.0 m in the 6-minute walk test. Minimal detectable difference was 13.7 m in the 2-minute walk test and 38.8 m in the 6-minute walk test.
Conclusion(s): These findings show good relative reliability of the 2- and 6- minute walk tests in patients with neuromuscular diseases. However, absolute reliability demonstrated variability in neuromuscular diseases. This should be considered when interpreting a change in walking distance.
Implications: This study helps clinicians to interpret results of 2- and 6-minute walk tests in individual neuromuscular patients in the clinic.
Keywords: Neuromuscular diseases, Reproducibility of results, Walk test
Funding acknowledgements: KLK, LKA received travel grants from Lundbeck Foundation, Rigshospitalets´ Anniversary Foundation. JV received research and travel grants from Genzyme Corporation.
Purpose: To investigate the relative and absolute reliability of the 2- and 6 minute walk tests in patients with neuromuscular diseases.
Methods: Each patient performed a 2- and a 6-minute walk test on 2 test days separated by 1-2 weeks.
Results: A total of 93 adult patients with 12 different neuromuscular diseases were included. The mean walking distance increased by 4.3 and 11.2 m in repeated 2- and 6-minute walk tests, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient in the 2- and 6-minute walk test was 0.99. Standard error of measurement was 4.9 m in the 2-minute walk test and 14.0 m in the 6-minute walk test. Minimal detectable difference was 13.7 m in the 2-minute walk test and 38.8 m in the 6-minute walk test.
Conclusion(s): These findings show good relative reliability of the 2- and 6- minute walk tests in patients with neuromuscular diseases. However, absolute reliability demonstrated variability in neuromuscular diseases. This should be considered when interpreting a change in walking distance.
Implications: This study helps clinicians to interpret results of 2- and 6-minute walk tests in individual neuromuscular patients in the clinic.
Keywords: Neuromuscular diseases, Reproducibility of results, Walk test
Funding acknowledgements: KLK, LKA received travel grants from Lundbeck Foundation, Rigshospitalets´ Anniversary Foundation. JV received research and travel grants from Genzyme Corporation.
Topic: Neurology
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: The Capital Region
Ethics committee: The Regional Committee on Health Research Ethics in Denmark
Ethics number: H-4-2014-FSP
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
