Comparing 6-Minute Walk Tests for Ambulatory Oxygen Assessment

Patients with lung disease who report breathlessness on exertion are often referred for a 6MWT. Due to the nature of the 6MWT (hereon referred to as a Max-6MWT), patients are required to walk as far as they can in 6 minutes. This may lead to an inaccurate assessment of their requirement for ambulatory oxygen as this form of exercise may not correspond to their normal daily activities.In this study, patients who are routinely referred for a Max-6MWT to investigate possible exercise-induced hypoxaemia will be invited to perform an additional walking test which is performed at their normal walking speed, referred here on in as a Nor_6MWT. We hypothesise that performing a Nor_6MWT will provide a more accurate assessment of a patients' oxygen requirement, primarily from their oxygen desaturation during the test.

Inclusion Criteria:Referred for a standard 6-minute walk testHas the capacity to give informed consentIs aged between 18 and 90Exclusion Criteria:Lack of capacity to provide informed consentPoor peripheral perfusion that prevents an accurate measurement of SpO2Contraindicated to perform a Max_6MWT as indicated in the standard HHFT 6MWT SO