Abstract:

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the 6-minute pegboard ring test (6PBRT) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Methods: This study included 31 patients with PH. The upper extremity function was measured with the 6PBRT. Muscle strength was measured for shoulder flexor, shoulder abductor, elbow extensor, and elbow flexors muscles using with a digital dynamometer, and handgrip strength with the hand dynamometer. Limitation of the activities of daily living was evaluated with the Milliken Activities of Daily Living Scale. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine test-retest reliability. Results: The 6PBRT showed excellent test-retest reliability with the ICC=0.98 (95% CI: 0.82–0.99). The SEM and MDC were calculated as 5.9 and 16.4, respectively. The patients with NYHA Class III had significantly lower scores in the 6PBRT compared to the patients with Class II (p=0.005) showing the known-groups validity of the 6PBRT. The 6PBRT was significantly and strongly correlated with age (r=-0.628, p<0.001), functional class (r=-0.502, p=0.004), activities of daily living (r=0.522, p=0.003), moderately correlated with shoulder flexor (r=0.360, p=0.047), shoulder abductor (r=0.388, p=0.031), elbow flexor (r=0.406, p=0.036) and handgrip muscles strength (r=0.375, p=0.041). Conclusion: This study showed that the 6PBRT has excellent test-retest reliability and good validity, including known-groups and convergent in PH. The higher 6PBRT scores were significantly correlated with younger age, better functional class and performance in activities of daily living, and greater upper extremity muscle strength.

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