Beckerman H, Heine M, van den Akker LE, de Groot V. The 2-minute walk test is not a valid method to determine aerobic capacity in persons with Multiple Sclerosis.
NeuroRehabilitation 2020;
45:239-245. [PMID:
31498142 PMCID:
PMC6918899 DOI:
10.3233/nre-192792]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Walking tests, like the 2-minute fast walk test, are simple, inexpensive performance-based tests, and therefore seem attractive to estimate the aerobic fitness in people with chronic diseases.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the criterion validity of the 2-minute fast walk test for estimating aerobic capacity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), by comparing it with the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak in mL/kg/min) as measured by Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) on a cycle ergometer.
METHODS:
The 2 min fast walk test was performed on a marked indoor trajectory, using a static start protocol. Aerobic capacity (VO2peak, in mL/kg/min) was derived from CPET on a cycle ergometer. Criterion validity was tested by means of Pearson’s correlation coefficient and should be at least 0.70 for a good criterion validity of the 2 min walk test. Linear regression analysis was applied to more precisely estimate VO2peak.
RESULTS:
In total 141 people with severe MS-related fatigue (mean age 47.0 years (range 23–68 years), 73% women, median disease duration 7.8 years (range 0.3 – 28.7 years)) performed both tests. The distance walked in two minutes ranged from 52.0 to 290.0 m (mean 175.1 m, sd 44.9 m), while the VO2peak varied between 11.31 and 40.28 mL/kg/min (mean 22.52 mL/kg/min, sd 6.07 mL/kg/min). The correlation between the 2 min walk test and VO2peak was 0.441 (95% CI: 0.309–0.570). The absolute residual error in estimated VO2peak was 5.47 mL/kg/min.
CONCLUSIONS:
Due to the poor correlation found between the 2 min walk test and VO2peak, the 2-min walk test cannot be recommended as a valid alternative for estimating aerobic capacity in persons with MS.
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