Functional Assessment of Kidney Transplant Candidates with the 6 Minute Walk Test and Hand Grip Strength
1Transplant Nephrology, Intermountain Healthcare, Murray
2University of Utah, Murray, UT.
Meeting: 2018 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: A208
Keywords: Age factors, Heart, High-risk, Outcome
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session A: Kidney: Cardiovascular and Metabolic
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, June 2, 2018
Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Hall 4EF
Background: The 6 minute walk test distance (6MWT) and Isometric hand grand grip strength (HGS) have been studied in various settings as objective measures of functional capacity. However, the utility of these tests and their clinical correlates among kidney transplant candidates has not been reported,
Methods: A convenience sample of patients undergoing renal transplant evaluation from 2015-17 at an altitude of 7000 ft. above MSL was used. Of 575 patients evaluated, 119 had undergone all tests of interest including 6MWT, HGS and resting Ejection fraction (EF) by echocardiography; patinets without complete data on all these tests were excluded. 6MWT were conducted in the pulmonary function lab and HGS was measured using a hand held dynamometer .
Results: Of the 119 patients, the mean age was 54.9 y, 52% were male, 83 % were White and 38% had ESRD from diabetes. The average 6MWT distance was 457.9 m (s.d:90). HGS averaged 56.35 lbs (s.d:26.2). 6MWT and HGS were significantly correlated but neither correlated with EF; Diabetics had lower 6MWT; males and females did not differ significantly by 6MWT or HGS. HGS declined gradually but significantly with increasing age (p=0.001) as did 6 MWT (p=0.004). In contrast, neither 6 MWT nor HGS correlated significantly with ESRD vintage. Waitlist mortality did not correlate with these measures during the timeframe of our inquiry.
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Conclusions: 1) The 6MWT and HGS are reproducible objective measures of performance and strength respectively and can be obtained with ease in the clinical setting 2) HGS and 6MWT decline gradually with age 3) 6MWT values are slightly lower among diabetics 5) HGS/ 6MWT do not vary significantly by ESRD vintage or EF 6) Our study provides expected values for HGS and 6MWT and can help inform assessment of strength and frailty.
CITATION INFORMATION: Anand S., Gilligan S., Morris D., Srinivas T. Functional Assessment of Kidney Transplant Candidates with the 6 Minute Walk Test and Hand Grip Strength Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Anand S, Gilligan S, Morris D, Srinivas T. Functional Assessment of Kidney Transplant Candidates with the 6 Minute Walk Test and Hand Grip Strength [abstract]. https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/functional-assessment-of-kidney-transplant-candidates-with-the-6-minute-walk-test-and-hand-grip-strength/. Accessed May 16, 2025.« Back to 2018 American Transplant Congress