BACKGROUND: Six minute walk test and treadmill test have been used to evaluate the functional limitations of peripheral artery disease patients. However, whether these tests are correlated remain poorly known. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the total walk distance (TWD) assessed in the six minute walk test and in the treadmill test in patients with peripheral artery disease and symptoms of intermittent claudication. METHODS: Thirty-four patients (65.5 ± 8.9 yrs) of both genders (26 men 8 women) participated of the study. They performed the 6 minute walk test in a 30 meters hall and the treadmill test with a specific protocol, with an interval of at least 7 days between the tests. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Significant correlation was observed between TWD assessed in the six minute walk test and in the treadmill test. (r=0.48, p<0.01). Significant correlation between the TWD assessed in the tests were observed in the patients with lower hemodynamic limb commitment (r=0.69; p=0.01), while in the patients with higher hemodynamic limb commitment the correlation was not significant (r=0.03, p=0.91). Furthermore, a significant correlation between TWD obtained in the tests was observed in patients with low (r=0.57; p=0.02), and high levels of adiposity (r=0.48, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study shown that walking capacity obtained with the six minute walk test and treadmill test are correlated, except in the patients with higher limb hemodynamic commitment.
peripheral arterial disease; intermittent claudication; exercise; walking
