The role of 6-minute walk test and pulmonary function testing in patients with post COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prevalence and magnitude of abnormalities in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) compared to those without PCC. The findings indicate that patients with PCC, particularly those who were hospitalized during acute COVID-19, are more likely to exhibit abnormal test results; however, the overall certainty of the evidence is very low due to high risk of bias and imprecision. The authors highlight the need for further research to better assess the diagnostic accuracy of these tests in PCC.