TITLE:
Correlation between the Six-Minute Walk Test and Subjective Functional Class in Patients with Heart Failure
AUTHORS:
Davi Muzi Rios, Gabriela Lira Devens, Leticia Admiral Louzada, Priscila Cabral Gomes Coelho Lima, Rodolfo Costa Sylvestre, Vinicius Angelo Astolpho, Lucas Crespo de Barros, Larissa Novaes Paganini, Lucas Martins Frizzera Borges, Renato Giestas Serpa, Osmar Araujo Calil, Luiz Fernando Machado Barbosa, Roberto Ramos Barbosa
KEYWORDS:
Heart Failure, Six-Minute Walk Test, Functional Class
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.13 No.4,
April
17,
2023
ABSTRACT: Introduction:The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is an inexpensive method to objectively evaluate physical capacity or limitation and stratify prognosis inpatients with Heart Failure (HF). Since the clinical perception of symptomsmay be adapted or compromised, regular evaluation from medical interviewsoftenfails to determine functional classification. This study aimed to assess thecorrelation between New York Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA-FC) and the distance walked in the 6MWT. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectionalobservational study that included patients with HF with reduced ejectionfraction followed up at an outpatient service of a teaching hospital, from August2018 to April 2019. Patients in NYHA-FC I, II,or III were included. We compared NYHA-FC subjectively obtained during the consultation with the6MWT performed after medical consultation, and the correlation between these two parameters was assessed. Results:The study included 70 patients with HF, 41 (58.6%) of whom were female. The mean age was 61.2 ± 12.7years. The most prevalent etiologiesweredilated idiopathic cardiomyopathy (35.7%) followed by ischemic cardiomyopathy (25.7%). The mean ejection fraction was 34.1% ± 9.8%.The average distance walked in the 6MWT by NYHA-FC I patients was 437.8 ± 95.8 meters,NYHA-FC II 360.1 ± 96.4,and NYHA-FC III 248.4 ± 98.3. Functional class measured by the 6MWT was different than that estimated by NYHA-FC in 34 patients (48.6%), 23 (32.9%) for a higherfunctional class and 11 (15.7%) for a lower one (p = 0.07). Pearson’s correlationcoefficient between NYHA-FC and the 6MWT was -0.55. Conclusion:Therewas a moderate correlation between the subjective NYHA-FC and the 6MWT. The 6MWTrevealed a different classification from NYHA-FC in almost half of the patients. Among those who presented discrepanciesbetween methods, 6MWT reclassification towards a higher functional class was more common.