CORRELATION OF 6MWD WITH FEV1% & DLCO% IN COPD PATIENTS

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.23
million deaths in 2019 according to WHO. Nearly 90% of COPD deaths in those under 70 years of age occur in low and
middle income countries (LMIC). There may be a considerable nancial burden due to limitation of workplace and home productivity, and costs
of medical treatment. Spirometry is used not only for conforming the diagnosis but also for grading the severity of COPD. 6MWD test has gained
importance's in the assessments of functional exercise capacity in patients with COPD and other Respiratory diseases. Diffusion Capacity of the
Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) has been employed as an additional investigation to aid in assessing the properties of gas transfer in many
respiratory diseases. It is a hospital based cross sectional and analytic MATERIALS AND METHODS: al study performed over a period of 12
months (June 2021-june 2022) in the department of Respiratory medicine, Narayana medical college and hospital, Nellore, in 30 patients
diagnosed with COPD and patients were subjected to 6MWD, spirometry and DLCO. RESULTS: Correlation between FEV1% & DLCO%,
FEV1% & 6MWD and DLCO% & 6MWD were done respectively. Among the rst correlation(FEV1% & DLCO%) there is a statistically
signicant moderate and strong positive correlation observed in severe and very severe patients respectively. Among the second correlation
(FEV1% & 6MWD) only in the whole sample there is statistically signicant moderate positive correlation observed. Among the third
correlation (DLCO% & 6MWD) only in severe patients of COPD there is a statistically signicant moderate positive correlation observed.
There is a slightly greater correlation for DLCO% & 6MWD compared to FEV1%. In CONCLUSION: severe COPD patients decline in
6MWD can be used to monitor the disease progression where as the decline in DLCO% can be used to keep track of the severe and very severe
stages of COPD. Incorporating of DLCO in grading COPD severity can help as a marker of exercise capacity limitation.