Relationship between requirement to stop during a six-minute walk test and health-related quality of life, physical activity and physical performance amongst people with intermittent claudication.

ABSTRACT Aim: A simple objective test is required to identify people with impaired physical aspects of health-related quality of life (QOL) due to intermittent claudication. This study assessed the relationship of QOL, function and physical activity to the need to stop during a six-minute walking test (6MWT) amongst people with intermittent claudication. Method: This was a prospective case-control study conducted at two centers in Australia. 173 participants with a history of intermittent claudication and peripheral artery disease diagnosed by ankle brachial pressure index Results: Participants that had to stop at least once during the two 6MWTs (46; 26.6%) had significantly lower scores for three of the domains (physical functioning, role-physical and bodily pain) and the physical component summary (PCS) measure of the SF-36 compared to those who did not need to stop (n=127; 73.4%). After adjusting for the risk factor co-variates (diabetes, hypertension and ankle brachial pressure index) which were significantly unequally distributed, needing to stop during the 6MWTs was significantly associated with a lower PCS score (adjusted mean 36.5, standard error 0.8 vs 30.5, standard error 1.3; F=14.0; p Conclusions: Needing to stop during a 6MWT identified participants with intermittent claudication with poorer QOL and less physical activity compared to those that do not need to stop.