BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic liver disease leads to reduction in health-related quality of life, particularly functional capacity.
The data about the use of Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) among
cirrhotic patients are limited. The current study was done to evaluate
the use of 6MWT in patients with HCV related chronic liver disease
for assessing the functional capacity and to determine the correlation
between the 6MWD and severity of chronic liver diseases.
METHODS: This analytic cross-sectional study was carried out on
20 healthy volunteers (Group I), 40 HCV patients with early liver
disease (Group II), and 40 HCV patients with liver cirrhosis (Group
III). Six minute walk distance (6MWD) was calculated.
RESULTS: The mean 6MWD was significantly lower in Groups II
and III (325.8 ± 56.65 meter, and 131.79 ± 43.40 meter) compared
to that of Group I (359.91 ± 38.63 meter) (p < 0.01; p < 0.001). The
mean 6MWD was significantly lower in Group III compared to that
of Group II (p < 0.001). 6MWD was positively correlated with hemoglobin, platelets, and albumin (p < 0.01). On the other hand, 6MWD
was negatively correlated with bilirubin, AST, ALP, creatinine, and
INR (p < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between
6MWD and BMI in Groups II and III (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between 6MWD and Child score or MELD score
in Group III (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Six-minute walk test is a reliable indicator to
measure the functional capacity for patients with HCV related chronic liver diseases.