A COMPARISON OF SIX MINUTE WALK TEST IN SICKLE CELL PATIENTS VERSUS AGE & SEX MATCHED CONTROLS IN CENTRAL INDIA STUDIU DE COMPARAȚIE PRIVIND TESTUL DE MERS DE 6 MINUTE LA PACIENȚII CU SICLEMIE, ÎN FUNCȚIE DE VÂRSTĂ & GEN, DIN INDIA CENTRALĂ

Background. Sickle cell anemia (SCA)is a genetic disease characterized by production of abnormal hemoglobin, & associated by chronic hemolytic anemia with acute and chronic tissue damage. SCA patients complain of significant exercise intolerance, which goes unnoticed. So the study is conduced to know the importance of exercise limitation in patients with SCA when compared to age & sex matched healthy counterparts. Aim. To determine the cardiopulmonary responses on performance of 6 minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with SCA versus controls. Materials and Methods. Experimental case control study was carried out at Sickle cell anemia and Physiotherapy outpatient department by age and sex matching in order to obtain 40 individuals in each group (n= 40 in SCA and Control group respectively) and initial parameters (weight, hemoglobin) were documented followed by performance of 6 MWT after which SCA and control were compared for 6 Minute Walk test parameters. Results. The result indicated that in SCA mean hemoglobin levels & weight was less when compared to the controls The results obtained also indicate that there is a change in the cardiopulmonary responses on performance of 6MWT. It is also to note that dysfunctional RBC’s reduced 6 MWD in SCA when compared to healthy counterparts.SCA group had higher respiratory rates compared to controls. Conclusions. There is a marked reduction in the 6MWD & 6MWT values when SCA were compared to control group. The reduced cardiovascular responses in SCA are compensated by increased respiratory rates. Cuvinte: siclemie, test de 6 minute mers, test de mers pe distanță in 6 minute