Chest
Volume 92, Issue 5, November 1987, Pages 783-788
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Stair Climbing as an Indicator of Pulmonary Function

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Seventy male patients with a mean age of 56.8 years scheduled for pulmonary function testing were subjected to a stair climb in order to determine the relationship, if any, between the number of steps climbed and the results of pulmonary function testing. The number of steps completed was plotted against the different parameters which may be used as predictors of post-thoracotomy outcome. The stair climb acts as a stress test and, although there is a strong relationship to pulmonary function tests, it also is an indicator of many other parameters including cardiovascular status, cooperation, and determination. Based on results of this study, the stair climb can be used as a reliable screening test of pulmonary function. Also, preoperative patients who are unable to perform pulmonary function tests can be evaluated accurately for lung resection by use of the stair climb test.

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METHODS

Eighty-one male patients scheduled for pulmonary function testing were considered for inclusion in the study. Those who were physically unable or refused to perform the test were excluded from the study. Of the remainder, those who had inadequate tests (due to questionable effort, inability to understand directions or inability to perform) were also excluded. The remaining 70 patients made up the study population.

Baseline data, including pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, age,

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients with a mean age of 56.8±11.5 years (ranging from 21 years to 79 years) were studied. The average number of steps per second was 1.09±0.41 with a low of 0.19 and a high of 2.05. A subset of patients with abnormal tolerance to stair climbing became apparent during the course of the study. These patients stopped the stair climb for reasons other than shortness of breath or completion of the climb. There were complaints of angina, fear of angina, claudication, and fear of

DISCUSSION

When analyzing the data, one finds definite relationships between the number of steps climbed and the various parameters which have been used in the past as predictors of post-thoracotomy outcome. Since FEV1 is used as a major predictor, it was more closely examined than other parameters. If a patient is unable to complete three flights of stairs (76 steps), the FEV1 will be less than 1.70 L. This held true in 86 percent of the study patients if the patients who stopped for nonpulmonary

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Special thanks to Mildred Corbett and Celeste Reynolds for their assistance in the pulmonary function testing.

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Manuscript received December 15; revision accepted April 6.

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