© 2004 European Society of Cardiology
The 6 minute walking test in chronic heart failure: indications, interpretation and limitations from a review of the literature
a Unità Operativa di Policardiografia Spedali Civili, Via Trainini 14, Brescia, Italy
b Unità Operativa di Cardiologia Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
c Unità Operativa di Cardiologia Ospedale S.Orsola-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
d Cattedra di Cardiologia Università di Brescia, Italy
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-030-3995490; fax: +39-030-2007785. E-mail address: faggiano@numerica.it
Received January 22, 2003; Revised November 4, 2003; Accepted November 26, 2003
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1. Introduction |
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The 6 min walking test (6MWT) was first used to evaluate patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory failure. The test attracted the attention of cardiologists because it was easy to perform and interpret. For this reason its role in measuring functional limitation, in evaluating the effects of therapy and in the prognostic stratification of patients with chronic heart failure has been widely investigated.
The 6MWT is a simple test which does not require expensive equipment or advanced training for technicians. The test involves asking the patient to walk the longest distance possible in a set interval of 6 min, through a walking course (corridor) preferably 30-m long. The patient can stop or slow down at any time and then resume walking, depending on his/her degree of fatigue. Even though other parameters can be monitored during the test, such as arterial pressure and/or heart
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2. Determinants of the 6MWT |
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3. Normal values of the 6MWT and use of a reference equation |
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4. Maximal or sub-maximal test |
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5. The problem of reproducibility |
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6. The prognostic significance of the 6MWT |
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7. Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy |
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8. The American Thoracic Society guidelines |
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