Resumen

BARON, Óscar  y  DIAZ, Gabriel. Six-minute walk test: protocol and practical application for the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension, with special reference to children. Rev. Colomb. Cardiol. [online]. 2016, vol.23, n.1, pp.59-67. ISSN 0120-5633.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rccar.2015.05.011.

Objective: Clinical practice demands an objective, reliable and simple evaluation of our patients. Particularly in diseases that affect performance and physical activities, such as pulmonary hypertension, it is necessary to know the repercussions on a basic aspect in the life of the patient, that is, the tolerance to physical activity, and to know the functional response of patients to medical interventions. Methodology: Although it does not involve great effort for the patient, the Six-Minute Walk test can provide a quantification of the capacity of the tolerance to physical activity, the response to therapeutic interventions, and patient progress. Results: This test has logistical advantages, namely it does not require expensive devices, the physical area used is easy to prepare, the patients performing the test only need basic training and results are objective and of simple interpretation. The previous aspects and the fact that this test is easy to repeat, is inexpensive, and has no risk for the patient, makes it a highly recommended test for the evaluation and monitoring of paediatric patients with cardiovascular diseases, since it can be performed with young children because it requires minimal cooperation from them. Conclusion: In pulmonary hypertension in children it is important to evaluate in an objective, simple and reliable way how our patients evolve, taking into account that there are few possibilities to study the physiological peculiarities of children. This test is important for decision-making and for evaluating the impact of therapeutic interventions, both from the general condition as well as from the cardiovascular health of the patient.

Palabras clave : Exercise; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Paediatrics.

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