Pregnancy reference intervals and exertion and breathlessness ratings for the six minute walk test in healthy nulliparous people

Pregnancy reference intervals and exertion and breathlessness ratings for the six minute walk test in healthy nulliparous people

The Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a simple, non-invasive, well-validated test that assesses cardiorespiratory fitness however is rarely used in pregnant people. It may have clinical utilization to assess fitness, breathing and exertion in pregnancy however no reference intervals exist for people 14...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heliyon Vol. 10; no. 4; p. e25863
Main Authors: Francis, Alaina R., Sugrue, Tahila J., Dennis, Alicia T.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier Ltd 29-02-2024
Elsevier
Subjects:
Breathlessness
Cardiac disease
Exercise
Exertion
Obstetrics
Perioperative medicine
Physiology
Pregnancy
Reference interval
Six minute walk test
Pregnancy
Six minute walk test
Breathlessness
Exercise
Cardiac disease
Exertion
Physiology
Reference interval
Perioperative medicine
Obstetrics
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Summary:The Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a simple, non-invasive, well-validated test that assesses cardiorespiratory fitness however is rarely used in pregnant people. It may have clinical utilization to assess fitness, breathing and exertion in pregnancy however no reference intervals exist for people 14+0 to 35+6 weeks gestation. We determined the reference intervals for distance walked for the 6MWT, including exertional and breathlessness ratings for this group. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of 196 healthy nulliparous pregnant people in earlier pregnancy (EP) 14+0 to 23+6 weeks, and middle pregnancy (MP) 24+0 to 35+6 gestation, who performed a standardized 6MWT protocol including rating exertion and breathlessness (Rating Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale (1 none −15 maximal) and Modified Borg Dyspnea (MBD) scale (0 none – 10 maximal)). The mean ± SD distance walked was 548 ± 80.9 (EP) versus 547 ± 87.3 (MP) meters (m) P = 0.928. 6MWT reference intervals for the distance walked for the 6MWT were 392–704 m (EP) and 376–718 m (MP). Median (IQR) exertion and breathlessness ratings with exercise for the EP and MP group were 6 (4,7) and 0.5 (0,1) and 6 (4,8) and 0.5 (0,1) respectively. There were no adverse events. The 6MWT is safe, feasible and acceptable in pregnant people. The reference intervals for the 6MWT are 392–704 m in people 14+0 to 23+6 weeks gestation and 376–718 m for people 24+0 to 35+6 weeks gestation. Exertion was light and breathlessness was just noticeable with the 6MWT. •The Six Minute Walk Test reference intervals are 392–704 m in people 14+0 to 23+6 weeks gestation.•The Six Minute Walk Test reference intervals are 376–718 m for people 24+0 to 35+6 weeks gestation.•Exertion was light and breathlessness was just noticeable with the Six Minute Walk Test.
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ISSN:2405-8440
2405-8440
DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25863