Mortality of bereavement.

Background: Six-minute walking test (6MWT) is widely used to assess exercise capacity in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Although incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) is used in chronic pulmonary diseases. There is limited data about its relationship with clinical parameters, quality of life (QoL) and physical activity level which are important in the prognosis of PH. Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), FEV1/FVC, diffusion capacity, QoL and physical activity, ISWT and 6MWT. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between hemodynamic changes in ISWT and 6MWT. Method: Sixteen PH patients (mean age:43.69±11.75/years, mean PAP:44.06±19.6 mmHg) were included in the study. PAP (right heart catheterization) were noted from the medical records. Spirometry, diffusion capacity, 6MWT, and ISWT were performed. Heart rate, SpO2, dyspnea and leg fatigue according to Borg scale were evaluated before and after the tests and walking distances were noted. Physical activity was determined by using SenseWear Pro Armband according to number of steps (NOS). QoL evaluated with EmPHasis-10. Results: The changes in dyspnea level (p=0.001, r=0.727) and heart rate (p=0.023, r=0.562) and walking distances (p=0.006, r=0.651) in ISWT and 6MWT were correlated. The NOS was significantly correlated with walking distance in ISWT (p=0.025, r=0.559) and 6MWT (p=0.028, r=0.548). Conclusion: We found that the changes in ISWT and 6 MWT were showed similar relationships in terms of walking distance, dyspnea, and heart rate. Also, physical activity level is related to exercise capacity assessed with ISWT and 6MWT in patients with PH.