Six-min walk test in a healthy adult Arab population.

Background: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a submaximal exercise test used to assess functional status in patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. Regression equations have previously been published as a normal reference for 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in healthy Caucasian adults. However, a recent study showed that the normal predicted 6MWD could differ among ethnic populations.

Evoked and event related potentials in chronic respiratory failure.

Objective: To assess the value of brainstem auditory evoked potentials and event related evoked potential (3rd positive component of evoked related potentials with latency of 300 millisecond, in evaluating cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic respiratory failure.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory failure of mild to moderate severity, were assessed regarding their mental function, utilizing mini-mental state examination, arterial blood gases including PH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, and both brainstem auditory evoked potentials and event related evoked potential response. Twenty-five normal subjects, matched for age and sex, were also studied as a control group.