Functional capacity analysis using the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) in chronic renal patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by changes in kidney function or structure for 3 months or more, leading to functional loss of the kidneys and decreased functional capacity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the physical capacity of patients with chronic kidney disease during stage 5, using the six minutes’ walk test (6MWT), and to compare the distance covered and predicted according to gender. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study. Individuals with CKD were included in stage 5, aged 18 to 59 years, of both genders and patients with lower limb deformities, smokers, alcoholics and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were excluded. Participants underwent the six minute walk test. Mean and standard deviation calculations were performed, as well as the Pearson and T-student tests, respecting the significance value <0.05 for statistical analysis using the SPSS 20.0 software for Windows. RESULTS: Of the 139 patients on hemodialysis, 30 were eligible, of which 12 (twelve) were female and 18 (eighteen) male, with a mean age in years old of 42.33 ± 15.58 and 39.27 ± 12, 22. The predicted distance in meters for females 763.10 ± 63.62 and males 840.82 ± 52.42. The average distance covered by the female gender was 325.33 ± 78.31 (r = 0.1, p = 0.00), male 389.67 ± 95.80 meters (r = 0.98, p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Chronic renal individuals undergoing staging 5, perform less than expected according to the predicted distance and traveled through 6MWT regardless of gender, indicating a lower functional capacity of this population.