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The modified Borg/6-min walk distance ratio : a method to assess exertional breathlessness and leg discomfort using the 6-min walk test

Ekström, Magnus LU orcid ; Li, Pei Zhi ; Lewthwaite, Hayley ; Bourbeau, Jean ; Tan, Wan C. and Jensen, Dennis (2023) In ERJ open research 9(5).
Abstract

Background The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is widely used to assess exercise capacity across chronic health conditions, but is currently not useful to assess symptoms, as the scores do not account for the 6-min walk distance (6MWD). We aimed to 1) develop normative reference equations for breathlessness and leg discomfort intensity expressed as modified Borg (mBorg)/6MWD ratios; and 2) validate the equations in people with COPD. Methods Analysis of people aged ⩾40 years who performed two 6MWTs (on a 20-m course) in the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study: a healthy cohort (n=291; mean±SD age 67.5±9.4 years; 54% male) with normal 6MWD and lung function, and a COPD cohort (n=156; age 66.2±9.0 years; 56% male; forced... (More)

Background The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is widely used to assess exercise capacity across chronic health conditions, but is currently not useful to assess symptoms, as the scores do not account for the 6-min walk distance (6MWD). We aimed to 1) develop normative reference equations for breathlessness and leg discomfort intensity expressed as modified Borg (mBorg)/6MWD ratios; and 2) validate the equations in people with COPD. Methods Analysis of people aged ⩾40 years who performed two 6MWTs (on a 20-m course) in the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study: a healthy cohort (n=291; mean±SD age 67.5±9.4 years; 54% male) with normal 6MWD and lung function, and a COPD cohort (n=156; age 66.2±9.0 years; 56% male; forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity 56.6±8.2%; FEV1 74.4±18.6% pred). The mBorg score was calculated as the Borg 0–10 category ratio intensity rating of breathlessness or leg discomfort recorded at the end of the 6MWT +1 (range 1–11), to avoid zeros and yield ratios proportional to the symptom score and 6MWD−1. Results Using data from the healthy cohort, sex-specific normative reference equations for breathlessness and leg discomfort mBorg/6MWD ratios were developed using multivariable linear regression, accounting for age, and body mass or body mass index. In the COPD cohort, abnormal breathlessness and leg discomfort (mBorg/6MWD>upper limit of normal) showed strong concurrent validity with worse airflow limitation, Medical Research Council breathlessness and COPD Assessment Test scores. Conclusion Normative references for the mBorg/6MWD ratio are presented to assess breathlessness and leg discomfort responses to the 6MWT in COPD.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
ERJ open research
volume
9
issue
5
publisher
European Respiratory Society
external identifiers
  • pmid:37753276
  • scopus:85175834705
ISSN
2312-0541
DOI
10.1183/23120541.00281-2023
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0e7b87aa-61b0-455b-a07d-a513c0469935
date added to LUP
2023-11-23 12:46:03
date last changed
2024-06-15 21:13:23
@article{0e7b87aa-61b0-455b-a07d-a513c0469935,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is widely used to assess exercise capacity across chronic health conditions, but is currently not useful to assess symptoms, as the scores do not account for the 6-min walk distance (6MWD). We aimed to 1) develop normative reference equations for breathlessness and leg discomfort intensity expressed as modified Borg (mBorg)/6MWD ratios; and 2) validate the equations in people with COPD. Methods Analysis of people aged ⩾40 years who performed two 6MWTs (on a 20-m course) in the Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study: a healthy cohort (n=291; mean±SD age 67.5±9.4 years; 54% male) with normal 6MWD and lung function, and a COPD cohort (n=156; age 66.2±9.0 years; 56% male; forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV<sub>1</sub>)/forced vital capacity 56.6±8.2%; FEV<sub>1</sub> 74.4±18.6% pred). The mBorg score was calculated as the Borg 0–10 category ratio intensity rating of breathlessness or leg discomfort recorded at the end of the 6MWT +1 (range 1–11), to avoid zeros and yield ratios proportional to the symptom score and 6MWD−1. Results Using data from the healthy cohort, sex-specific normative reference equations for breathlessness and leg discomfort mBorg/6MWD ratios were developed using multivariable linear regression, accounting for age, and body mass or body mass index. In the COPD cohort, abnormal breathlessness and leg discomfort (mBorg/6MWD&gt;upper limit of normal) showed strong concurrent validity with worse airflow limitation, Medical Research Council breathlessness and COPD Assessment Test scores. Conclusion Normative references for the mBorg/6MWD ratio are presented to assess breathlessness and leg discomfort responses to the 6MWT in COPD.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ekström, Magnus and Li, Pei Zhi and Lewthwaite, Hayley and Bourbeau, Jean and Tan, Wan C. and Jensen, Dennis}},
  issn         = {{2312-0541}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  publisher    = {{European Respiratory Society}},
  series       = {{ERJ open research}},
  title        = {{The modified Borg/6-min walk distance ratio : a method to assess exertional breathlessness and leg discomfort using the 6-min walk test}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00281-2023}},
  doi          = {{10.1183/23120541.00281-2023}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}