StudyLTCovid.com

The 6 Minute Walking Test has already been described.

To summarize, a participant:

1. Gets the supplied Vital Signs equipment ready. It is used to measure
   1. Oral temperature (T°C) - with infrared non-contact thermometer
   2. Systolic blood pressure (BPs) - with wrist BP cuff
   3. Diastolic blood pressure (BPd) - with wrist BP cuff
   4. Pulse or heart rate (bpm) - with wrist BP cuff
   5. Peripheral Oxygen saturation (spO2) - with finger pulse oximeter
   6. Supplied items for preparing a peripheral smear at rest ("Pre") and at 15 minutes
      1. It is suggested to do this before getting settled in to measuring Vital Signs.
2. Takes the "Pre" measurements at rest. This requires 
   1. Getting seated at a desk or table and placing the BP stand in front of one. It assures that measurements are made with the cuff at heart height each time.
   2. Resting quietly for 5 minutes before the first measurements. Use the supplied blue timer set to 5 minutes to know when 5 minutes has elapsed, then take first measurements.
   3. For convenience, a form is supplied to quickly jot down results. Ultimately, these can be sent via a picture of the form to Vitals@StudyLTCovid.com. Another way to report the Vital Signs associated with the Day 0 and Day 11 walking tests is via an online survey dedicated to that purpose. Ultimately these get transferred to a database for safe keeping, calculation of some derived variables and interpretation.
3. Does the 6 Minute walking Test as described elsewhere
   1. changing pace as indicated at the appropriate times by either following the pace of the MP3 on the supplied CD, or changing when indicated if using a treadmill.
4. Does the Recovery Vital Signs measurements at 0, 5, 10 & 15 minutes
   1. "0 Minutes" - As quickly as possible after the 6 Minute Walking Test, one returns to the seated position one used for the "Pre" measurement at rest. Since there is lots to do all at once, it is suggested to keep wearing the BP cuff during the Walking Test. Then it's ready for what follows.
      1. Quickly start the little blue 5 minute timer
      2. Place hand on stand with BP cuff still at wrist and pulse ox on one's extended index finger. Quickly press the BP cuff's Start button
      3. While cuff is starting to inflate, quickly take oral temperature with thermometer held in other hand and turned towards one's open mouth. Press button with thumb.
      4. Jot down results as they appear. Hit stop button on BP cuff to save battery life.
      5. Continue resting in same position. 
   2. "5, 10 & 15 minutes" - Same as above for 0 minutes.
      1. The 5 minutes readings come up quicker than expected. That's why setting the little blue timer is important. It runs down over 5 minutes then beeps. When it does, restart it to begin the next interval. Then take the 5 measurements of Temp, BPs, BPd, pulse and spO2.
      2. With 15 minutes of recovery completed, turn off BP cuff and do the 15 minute finger stick and preparation of the peripheral smear as described and as done "Pre" Walking Test.
      3. Think over how it went, and add a brief note or two in the space provided on the Vital Signs reporting form, as desired.
5. Reports the results by either method 1 or 2 as described below:
   1. Chose to do this when you have completed Day 11 if you like, sending a readable picture of the form with results for both days via email to Vitals@StudyLTCovid.com, or send a similar picture on Day 0 and set the form aside for use after the 10 days of intervention, sending another picture on Day 11.
   2. On Day 0 and Day 11, complete the survey (which is not a survey but rather a place to report results online).
      1. It will ask: the date, which Day (0 or 11) these results belong to, your Study ID# (like mine, which is QI-WJO-1950)
      2. It will ask to enter data by time and the whole string of results, for example
         1. "Pre 36.6, 130, 70, 64, 97%," or another example
         2. "0 minutes, 36.8, 152, 84, 94, 95%," or a final example
         3. "15 minutes, 36.7, 126, 68, 72, 98%."
         4. These are not values entered one by one, but an entire string together as shown above in what is actually a Comment Box (and as you will see if you use this method of reporting).
      3. It provides a comments box where one can add notes as desired for Day 0 or Day 11.
      4. HERE IS THE LINK to use this survey for reporting Vital Signs.
6. What to do with the two peripheral smears is covered elsewhere. To summarize, there are 4 glass slides: Day 0 "Pre" and "15 minutes," and Day 11 "Pre" and "15 minutes." Comparing cells seen on these will inform about the effect of mild exercise in the setting of "long-term" COVID-19, and also any effects of the 10 days of intervention. But to summarize:
   1. Do each peripheral blood smear as instructed in the video
   2. Set it aside to air dry (30 to 60 minutes works)
   3. Quickly mail it in the material supplied
      1. Two slides on Day 0 and two on Day 11.
      2. Don't wait until Day 11 to send slides from Day 0. That would be too long a delay.

Here is an example of how Vital Signs reported results are entered in our Feedback database for safekeeping and eventual feedback.

Questions? Write them to Questions@StudyLTCovid.com

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