Are the 6-minute walk test and the 2-minute walk test equivalent in acute and subacute stroke survivors in Belgium and Vietnam: a multicultural study.

Objective: To test the equivalence of the 6-minute walk test and the 2-minute walk test in stroke survivors in a multicultural setting, focusing on reliability, performance, and associations with clinical and anthropometric factors.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Subjects/patients: 238 participants (119 stroke survivors and 119 healthy individuals matched for age and sex).

Methods: Participants were assessed using the 6-minute walk test and the 2-minute walk test in Belgium and Vietnam. Stroke survivors were assessed in the acute and subacute phases (17 days post-stroke) and reassessed after 1-3 days.

Results: The 6-minute walk test and the 2-minute walk test showed high test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.96). The difference between the two tests was not significant in terms of walking distance reduction in stroke survivors relative to healthy participants (1.4%), not clinically meaningful for walking speed (0.026 m/s), and not significant in chronotropic response (1.6 bpm). The correlation between the 2 tests in stroke survivors was high (r = 0.93) and walking distance was moderately related to height, weight, and phase, and type of stroke (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The 6-minute walk test and the 2-minute walk test exhibited similar results in measuring the impact of stroke on walking performance. The similarity between Belgium and Vietnam further supports the clinical equivalence of both tests among acute and subacute stroke survivors.