![]() We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. A 2019 review suggests that the 6MWT can also provide reliable information on the everyday functional ability and outlook of individuals with heart failure. ![]() The MDC is the minimum difference in score to ensure that the change is not due to an error.ĭoctors will also consider the minimal important difference (MID), which is the smallest change in a treatment outcome that an individual would identify as clinically important.Īlthough the MID varies slightly depending on the test method and study population, the available evidence suggests that it is about 30 m.Ī 2019 article notes that doctors can use 6MWT scores to predict the severity of lung conditions or the likelihood that they will be fatal. However, when doctors look at the scores of tests that took place at different times - such as 6 months or a year apart - they will need to evaluate any change based on how it compares with the minimal detectable change (MDC). After reviewing an individual’s score, doctors may change their medications or exercise program. The results of the 6MWT can help doctors evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention to increase exercise tolerance. A low score correlates with lower function. The higher a person’s score, the better their exercise tolerance. Heart diseases: Heart disease refers to conditions that affect the heart, such as heart failure, in which the heart does not work as well as it should.Īdditionally, doctors may include the test in a pre-lung transplant evaluation, which is a series of tests that show a person’s capacity to withstand the surgery.Īlthough the original purpose of the test was to assess people with heart and lung conditions, doctors can use it to measure exercise capacity in older adults and children with other conditions, such as stroke, rheumatic conditions, and neurological conditions.Interstitial lung disease: These are conditions that cause progressive scarring of lung tissue, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.Pulmonary hypertension: This is high blood pressure in blood vessels going from the heart to the lungs.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): COPD is an umbrella term for conditions involving airway obstruction, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.Not only is the test a way to measure the general health of an individual, but a doctor can also use it to monitor the effectiveness of the current treatment plan and see whether it is improving a person’s condition.įor example, doctors commonly use it to assess individuals with heart or lung conditions such as: The 6MWT measures exercise tolerance in people with various health conditions.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |