Key result
Six-minute cycle ergometer testing correlates reliably with the 6MWT in preoperative cardiac surgery patients.
Why the study?
A portable cycle ergometer test was needed to facilitate functional capacity assessment in patients with walking difficulties and those in controlled environments, specifically before and after cardiac surgery.
Is the six-minute cycle ergometer test a valid and reliable measure of functional capacity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery?
Cross-Sectional
Is the six-minute cycle ergometer test a valid and reliable measure of functional capacity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery?
The six-minute cycle ergometer test is a valid and reliable tool for assessing functional capacity in patients before and after cardiac surgery, though two tests are recommended due to a learning effect.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support 6MCET for preoperative functional assessment in cardiac surgery; leaves open routine adoption pending prospective validation.
Background and Purpose The development and validation of a portable cycle ergometer test can facilitate functional capacity assessment of patients with walking difficulties and those in controlled environments. Our aim was to develop the six‐minute cycle ergometer test (6MCET) and verify its validity and reliability for assessing functional capacity in the preoperative period of cardiac surgery and its ability to identify functional capacity changes in the postoperative period (PO). Methods In this cross‐sectional and prospective study, patients in the preoperative period of cardiac surgery underwent two 6MCET (6MCETPRE) and two six‐minute walk tests (6MWT). In the PO period, two 6MCET (6MCETPOST) were performed. Results Performance in the 6MCETPRE correlated with 6MWT performance (r = 0.68, p 0.004). A high reliability was found for performance in the 6MCETPRE and 6MCETPOST (ICC = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.71–0.96; and 0.95, 95% CI: 0.80 – 0.99; respectively; both p < 0.05). Performance on retest was higher compared with the first 6MCETPRE (mean difference = 58.8 ± 67.7 revolutions; p < 0.001) and 6MCETPOST (mean difference = 36.4 ± 55.6 revolutions; p = 0.03) with learning effects of 15% and 16%, respectively. All patients presented a reduced performance in the 6MCETPOST compared with 6MCETPRE (mean difference = 185 ± 92.6 revolutions; p < 0.001). Discussion 6MCET is valid for assessing functional capacity in the preoperative period, reliable in the pre‐ and postoperative periods, and can identify a functional capacity reduction in the PO period of cardiac surgeries. Two tests are recommended due to the learning effect.
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Silva et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Preoperative and postoperative periods of cardiac surgery. Six-minute cycle ergometer test (6MCET) vs. Six-minute walk test (6MWT) was evaluated on Correlation between 6MCETPRE and 6MWT performance (r = 0.68, p=0.004). The six-minute cycle ergometer test correlated with the walking distance test and showed high reliability in preoperative cardiac surgery patients.
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