Cardiorespiratory Response to Six-Minute Step Test in Post-COVID-19 Patients :A Cross-Sectional Study /

Linked Agent
Alternative Title
الاستجابة القلبیة التنفسیة لاختبار صعود الدرج في ستة دقائق لما بعد الإصابة بفیروس كورونا المستجد : دراسة مقطعية
Date Issued
2023
Language
English
Thesis Type
Thesis
Abstract
Background and purpose: New coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause persistent symptoms and physical weakness that can lead to a limitation in activities of daily living (ADL). There is a lack of evidence about the performance in the six-minute step test (6MST) of post-COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects. The aim of this study is to investigate the cardiorespiratory response induced by the 6MST in post-COVID-19 patients and compare it with the response of six-minute walk test (6MWT). Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 post-COVID-19 patients and 33 healthy subjects. Assessment was performed at one month from a non-severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both groups were assessed by using 6MST, 6MWT, and pulmonary function test (PFT). PCFS scale was used for post-COVID-19 group to assess functional status. Physiological responses: heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure (BP), and Borg scale for fatigue and dyspnea were recorded before and after 6MST and 6MWT. Results: the performance of the post-COVID-19 group was worse than the healthy group in both tests. In 6MWT, the distance walked by the post-COVID-19 group (423±7) was 94m lesser than the healthy group, and the number of climbed steps in 6MST (121±4) was 34 steps lesser than the healthy group. Both results were statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was a moderate positive correlation between 6MST and 6MWT in walked distance versus steps number in post-COVID-19 group (r=0.5, p=0.001). In addition, there was moderate to strong correlation between the two tests in post (SBP, DBP, dyspnea, and fatigue) with p ≤ 0.001. Conclusions: Six-minute step test produced similar cardiorespiratory responses when compared to a 6MWT. The 6MST can be used as an assessment tool for COVID-19 patients to evaluate their functional capacity and ADL.
Note
A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for The Degree of Master of Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah Sharjah, UAE.
Category
Theses
Library of Congress Classification
WC506 .AB135c 2023
Local Identifier
b16391482