Correlation between the 6-minute walk test and variables derived from the 10-meter walk test in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury

Abstract

The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a good assessment for cardiopulmonary endurance and functional capacity. However, the test has been criticized in its application due to time and space requirement for the test. In contrast, the 10-meter walk test (10MWT) can easily be measured and required less time to complete. It is considered as a surrogate for the overall quality of gait and motor function. However, the test can be reported using various methods. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation and predictive ability of the outcomes derived from 10MWT including preferred, maximum speed, and difference of preferred and maximum walking speed on predicting the 6MinWT in 38 independent ambulatory patients with SCI. The results demonstrated that the 10MWT when tested using preferred walking speed had the best correlation with the 6MinWT (r = 0.91, P < 0.01), followed by using maximum speed, and using the differences between preferred and maximum speed. In addition, results from the preferred walking speed had 82 % predictive ability of the 6MinWT (R² = 0.82). The findings indicate that, when time and space are constrained, testing the 10MWT at a preferred speed has the best predictive ability for data of the 6MinWT. if"; m"<ae �(�family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:TH'>-thalassemia 2 in Thailand.  Hb analysis could not separate them. Both are unstable; their levels in peripheral blood are so small that they could be undetected in routine setting. To update recent information of the two Hbs in population, the incidences of Hb Constant Spring and Hb Paksé were re-examined using capillary electrophoresis and multiplex allele specific PCR. Three hundred and forty cord blood specimens anticoagulated with EDTA were consecutively collected from newborns delivered at the Health Promotion Center Region 6, Khon Kaen province during January - May 2012. Among these, we identified 17 cases (5.0 %) with Hb CS and 5 cases (1.5 %) with Hb Paksé, including 11 heterozygous Hb CS, 1 double heterozygous Hb CS / Hb E, 1 compound heterozygous Hb CS / a-thal 2 (3.7 kb deletion), 3 compound heterozygous Hb CS / a-thal 2 (3.7 kb deletion) with heterozygous Hb E , 1 compound heterozygous Hb CS / a-thal 2 (3.7 kb deletion) with homozygous Hb E, 2 heterozygous Hb Paksé, 3 double heterozygous Hb Paksé - Hb E. The gene frequencies for Hb CS and Hb Pakse’ were 0.025 and 0.007 respectively. It was found that among these 22 cases with Hb CS and Hb Paksé genes, small peaks at zone 2 on capillary electrophoresis were detected in only 5 of them. The result in this study indicates high incidences and heterogeneity of the two Hbs in northeast Thai population. Diagnosis made by Hb analysis was not sufficient, requiring further DNA analysis. Moreover, data demonstrates that approximately 22.7 % of diagnosis of Hb CS based on a small peak of Hb in zone 2 of the routine capillary electrophoresis could alternatively be Hb Paksé in this population. The results from this study should prove useful in genetic counseling and facilitating a prevention and control program of thalassemia in the region.