Validity And Reliability Of 2 Min Walk Test To Assess Functional Capacity And SPO2 In Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health concern, characterized by a gradual and irreversible deterioration of kidney function over timeIt is defined by the presence of structural or functional kidney abnormalities, as evidenced by decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or increased urinary albumin excretion, persisting for more than three months   Prevalence In 2017, approximately 700 million cases of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) were reported globally, accounting for a prevalence rate of 9.1% (with a 95% uncertainty interval of 8.5 to 9.8). Since 1990, there has been a notable increase of 29.3% (with a range of 26.4 to 32.6) in CKD prevalence.

The clinical manifestations of CKD are complex and multi-systemic, affecting various organ systems beyond the kidneys. One of the prominent and debilitating effects of CKD is the impairment of skeletal muscle function and exercise capacity.

Patients with CKD often experience muscle atrophy, weakness, and reduced exercise endurance, leading to functional limitations and mobility restrictions.

In light of these limitations, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative assessment tools that can provide a more practical and less fatiguing evaluation of functional capacity in CKD patients. One such alternative is the 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT), which has been investigated and validated in other patient populations, such as those with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and well-controlled asthma

The 2MWT is a shorter-duration walking test that may be better suited for CKD patients, as it requires less physical and cognitive effort while still providing valuable information about an individual’s functional status.

Although the 6minute walk test is reliable and valid test to evaluate functional capacity in CKD patient’s .Nevertheless, it is also recognized that CKD patients experience muscular tiredness and weakness, hence 6minute walk test can be exhausting.

As a result, 2MWT is more significant and equally valid and reliable test. Since, 2MWT takes less time, it can help CKD patients with high muscular tiredness and fatigue. The validity and reliability of a test are determined by its target participants. To the authors knowledge the validity and reliability of 2MWT in measuring functional capacity in CKD patients have not yet been examined.

The primary outcome in the 2MWT is the 6-min walk distance (6MWD), which can be used for exercise prescription and is also suitable for pre- and post-CR outcome assessment . Maintaining adequate physical endurance in later year is important to prevent Frailty and loss of independence,