Functional assessment of heart failure patients

A hallmark of heart failure (HF) is exercise intolerance, along with fatigue and shortness of breath. Functional assessments provide important clinical information. As the disease progresses, HF patients experience a downward spiral leading to a functional disability. Reduced functional abilities restrict or prevent HF patients from performing occupational tasks, which may result in loss of work and reduced quality of life. Functional assessments provide a measure of functional capacity and information on prognosis, disease severity, degree of disability, and quality of life. Direct and indirect cardiovascular and muscular functional assessments for patients with HF are provided in this review.