Functional Capacity in Heart Failure: Which Test, and for What Purpose?

As a prognostic tool, the 6-minute walk test was as good as cardiopulmonary exercise testing, but neither added much to clinical and demographic markers.

Functional capacity is considered to be an important clinical and prognostic measure in patients with heart failure (HF). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPXT) — to determine oxygen consumption (VO₂) and ventilatory equivalent–carbon dioxide ratio (VE/VCO₂) — is generally recognized as the standard quantitative method for this parameter. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simpler alternative to CPXT, but it has not been rigorously compared with CPXT regarding its prognostic value.

To assess the utility of these functional measures for predicting mortality and hospitalization, investigators conducted a post-hoc analysis of data from the HF-ACTION trial (JW Cardiol Apr 8 2009) involving 2054 ambulatory patients with systolic HF and moderate …

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)