Examination of Changes in 6-minute Walk Distance and Related Factors in Patients with Perioperative Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the effects of pre- and postoperative physical function on the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Method: Forty-two elderly patients with PAD who were hospitalized for revascularization and able to walk independently were included in the study. The 6MWD, ankle brachial index (ABI), weight-bearing index (WBI), gait, and intermittent claudication distance (ICD) were measured before and after the surgery, and skeletal muscle index was measured only before surgery. Analyses were performed by comparing the pre- and postoperative values of each factor using a paired t-test. In addition, multiple regression analysis was performed with 6MWD as the dependent variable before and after surgery.

Results: Postoperatively, pain disappeared in 22 patients, and ABI, ICD, 6MWD, and stride length improved significantly. ICD and stride length were extracted as factors related to 6MWD before and after surgery, and ABI, WBI, and stride length were extracted as factors related to 6MWD after surgery.

Conclusion: The improvement of intermittent claudication associated with revascularization suggests a stronger influence of functional aspects on postoperative 6MWD.