six-minute walk test in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis

ABSTRACT

The 6-min walk test [6MWT] is a useful tool to assess prognosis and functional impairment in various pulmonary diseases. To evaluate functional capacity during various stages of pulmonary sarcoidosis and develop a scoring system clinical radiological physiological score [CRP] that can potentially be used to assess the functional status among patients with sarcoidosis. We performed a retrospective study on 26 patients diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis from 2001 to 2007. All patients completed the 6MWT. The parameters assessed during the test included spirometry, arterial blood gas, 6-min walk distance [6MWD], Borg dyspnea score, and initial and end oxygen saturation. Females covered a significantly shorter distance than males [343 m [223-389] vs. 416.5 m [352-500]; P < 0.0001]. In addition, females had a significantly lower SpO[2] at the end of the 6MWT than males [90.5 [61-99] vs. 96 [75-98]; P < 0.03]. The 6MWD was inversely correlated with the final Borg score [r = ?0.603, P = 0.004] and the CRP score [r = -0.364, P = 0.047] and positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV[1]]% [r = 0.524, P = 0.006] and forced vital capacity [FVC]% [r = 0.407, P = 0.039]. Female gender, FEV[1]%, final Borg score, FVC%, CRP score, and SpO[2] at the end of the 6MWT are associated with reduced 6MWD. It appears that Saudi patients diagnosed with sarcoidosis have a markedly reduced walking distance compared with other races. The effect of race and ethnicity and the utility of the CRP score as a potential marker to assess functional status require further exploration