Standardization of 6 Minute Walk Test
Standardization of 6 Minute Walk Test
The 6 minute walk (6MW) gives information about the exercise capacity and it is an important
 tool for clinical decisions and for the prognostic evaluation of PH patients. The test is
 technically simple to perform, inexpensive and reproducible. During the 6MW O2 saturation,
 heart rate, walking distance (in this study after every minute) and the level of dyspnea
 (BORG-dyspnea scale) may be recorded; however, at present, mainly the walking distance is
 evaluated. The test is sometimes criticized, because of the dependence on the patient's
 motivation.

 The purpose of the present study is to standardize the test by the incorporation of objective
 factors. The investigators are correlating the change of heart rate and dyspnea (BORG scale)
 with the achieved walking distance during subsequent examinations performed with different
 effort.
On two different days the patients have to absolve four 6MW on different levels of effort -
 on both days a traditional test will be performed and additionally a test with more effort or
 with less effort. The order of the tests will be randomized. These two days of the
 examinations should be within a maximum of three months, provided that there is no sign of
 relevant clinical changes. After every minute the walking distance is determined. Heart rate
 and the O2 saturation are measured by pulsoxymetry during the whole test. Every two minutes
 the patients are asked about their dyspnea (Borg scale).

 The purpose of the present study is to standardize the test by the incorporation of objective
 factors and to detect the correlation between the walking distance and the level of effort
 during exercise. The investigators expect that the reliability and objectivity of 6MW may
 increase by the standardization.

 The additionally performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing helps to evaluate and stratify
 patients.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension or exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension by
 right heart catheterisation

 -  informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Myocardiac Infarct within the last 12 months

 -  Uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmia

 -  Uncontrolled bradycardic or tachycardic supraventricular arrhythmia

 -  relevant operations within the last 12 weeks

 -  change of the hemodynamic therapy within the last 6 weeks

 -  joint diseases or diseases of peripheral vessels and nerves which may make the results
 of the six minute walk test unreliable