Can the 1-Min Sit-to-Stand Test Be an Alternative for Assessing Physical Capacity in Patients Enrolled in a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Program?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the performance of the 6-min walk test and the 1-min sit-to-stand test in patients enrolled in a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) program. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of patients enrolled in a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program. Anthropometric and demographic characteristics, along with comorbidities, were recorded. We analyzed oxygen saturation, heart rate, and the modified Borg scale in the 6-min walk test and 1 min-sit-to-stand test. Additionally, correlations between the two tests were evaluated. A total of 46 patients (22 females [48%]), with a mean age of 34.7 ± 14.0 yrs were included. Of these, 25 (54.3%) were assessed before, and 21 (45.7%) after HSCT. The primary diagnoses were acute lymphoblastic leukemia (41.3%) and multiple myeloma (26.0%). The mean distance walked during the 6-min walk test was 501 ± 126 m while the median number of repetitions in the 1 min sit-to-stand test was 26.5 (22-30). A significant correlation was observed between the 6-min walk test and the 1 min-sit-to-stand test in HSCT patients (r = 0.678, P < 0.001). This research demonstrated a significant correlation between the 1 min-sit-to-stand test and the 6-min walk test in patients enrolled in a HSCT program. The 1-min sit-to-stand test may serve as a viable alternative for evaluating functional capacity when the 6-min walk test is not feasible.