The relation between repeated 6-minute walk test performance and outcome in patients with chronic heart failure

Ingle, L., Cleland, J.G. and Clark, A.L. (2014) The relation between repeated 6-minute walk test performance and outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 57(4), pp. 244-253. (doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2014.03.004) (PMID:24835160)

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prognostic implications of the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) distance measured twice, one year apart, in a large sample of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) followed for an extended period (> 8 years from baseline). Material and methods: Patients undertook a 6-MWT at baseline and at one year, and were followed up for 8 years from baseline. Results: Six hundred patients (median [inter-quartile range, IQR]) (age 78 [72–84] years; 75% males; body mass index 27 [25–31] kg·m−2; left ventricular ejection fraction 34 [26–38] %) were included. At baseline, median 6-MWT distance was 232 (60–386) m. There was no significant change in 6-MWT distance at one year (change −12 m; P = 0.533). During a median follow-up of 8.0 years in survivors, 396 patients had died (66%). Four variables were independent predictors of all-cause mortality in a multivariable Cox model (adjusted for body mass index, age, QRS duration, left ventricular ejection fraction); increasing NT pro-BNP, decreasing 6-MWT distance at 1 year, decreasing haemoglobin, and increasing urea. Conclusions: Distance walked during the 6-MWT is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with CHF. In survivors, the 6-MWT distance is stable at 1 year. The 6-MWT distance at 1 year carries similar prognostic information.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cleland, Professor John
• Authors: Ingle, L., Cleland, J.G., and Clark, A.L.
• Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
• Journal Name: Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1877-0657
• ISSN (Online): 1877-0665
• Published Online: 02 May 2014