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Six minute walking test for assessing exercise capacity in chronic heart failure
British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.)
|March 8, 1986
Summary
The six-minute walk test effectively assesses chronic heart failure disability, correlating with exercise capacity. Patients with severe heart failure benefit most from this simple, preferred test.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Chronic heart failure (CHF) significantly impacts exercise capacity and daily living.
- Accurate assessment of functional capacity is crucial for managing CHF patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the six-minute walk test (6MWT) with maximal treadmill exercise testing for assessing exercise capacity in CHF.
- To evaluate the utility of the 6MWT across different severities of heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-six patients with stable CHF (New York Heart Association class II-III) and 10 healthy controls underwent maximal treadmill exercise testing and a 6MWT.
- Maximal oxygen consumption and 6-minute walk distance were measured.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in 6-minute walk distance were observed between normal subjects, NYHA class II, and class III CHF patients (683m, 558m, 402m respectively; p < 0.003).
- A curvilinear relationship existed between maximal oxygen consumption and 6-minute walk distance.
- Patients and controls preferred the 6MWT, finding it more relevant to daily activities.
Conclusions:
- The 6MWT is a simple, objective measure of disability in CHF, particularly valuable for assessing severe cases.
- While useful, the 6MWT may be less sensitive in patients with mild heart failure or very high exercise capacity.