COMPARISON OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABLES IN THE SIX-MINUTE WALK TEST AND STAIR-CLIMBING TEST IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Introduction: Exercise intolerance interposes daily life activities in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD); hence, the evaluation of this functional limitation becomes fundamental. Objective: To compare the six-minute walk test (HR6peak) with the stair-climbing test (SCT) in patients with COPD. Methods: prospective analysis of twenty-one patients with COPD who were part of the - Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program - (PRP). Patients were evaluated from July to October, 2008 when they performed the HR6peak and ET, analyzing the variables physiological (HR, PSO2), and the modified Borg scale before and after each test. The distance was measured at the end of the tests. Results: Comparing the timing (early versus late) of physiological and subjective perception of exertion (RPE) from Borg, we can observe that all changes were statistically significant (p < 0.001) tests. However, when the physiological changes were compared, the PSO2 obtained presented similar reduction (p = 0.912) in both tests, the HR increased significantly in ET (p = 0.006) and on Borg RPE (p < 0.001). Regarding the walking distance performed, the HR6peak (p < 0.001), allowed participants to advance to a distance significantly longer than the ET. Conclusion: the tests expressed important physiological and subjective perception of effort (RPE) from Borg (p < 0.001).