Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 51, Issue 4 M147-M151, Copyright © 1996 by The Gerontological Society of America

JOURNAL ARTICLE

The 6-minute walk as an appropriate exercise test in elderly patients with chronic heart failure

P Peeters and T Mets
Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Hospital, Free University Brussels (VUB), Belgium.

BACKGROUND. The value of the 6-minute walk in a population of elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) has not yet been established, as it has been in a younger population. METHODS. In a prospective trial, 2 exercise tests were compared: the 6-minute walk (6 MW) and a treadmill test with progressive increments in workload. 37 patients (mean age 81.3, SD 5.6 years): 11 untrained controls, 16 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and 10 patients with NYHA class III participated. The main outcome measures were the distance walked in 6 minutes, the symptomatic VO2max in the progressive treadmill test and the degree of CHF as scored by the NYHA classification and the Boston Study Group (BSG) score. RESULTS. For both the 6 MW and the treadmill test there was a significant difference in distance between NYHA class II and III patients (p < .001), between the controls and NYHA class III patients (p < .001), but not between the controls and NYHA class II patients. The distance walked in the 6 MW was well correlated with the distance walked in the treadmill test (p < .001). Eight participants (22%), however, were unable to perform this treadmill test and 6 participants (17%) covered very low distances compared to the 6 MW. The VO2max was lower in NYHA class III than in class II patients (p = .032). NYHA classification and BSG score correlated reasonably well. CONCLUSION. A treadmill exercise test with VO2max measurement in elderly patients with CHF is difficult to accomplish. On the contrary, the 6 MW gives a good impression of the remaining exercise capacity. It is well correlated with the treadmill test. The 6 MW is well tolerated by elderly patients and differentiates between NYHA classes II and III. Untrained controls could not be differentiated from NYHA class II patients.

This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)

				J. Giri, M. M. McDermott, P. Greenland, J. M. Guralnik, M. H. Criqui, K. Liu, L. Ferrucci, D. Green, J. R. Schneider, and L. Tian Statin Use and Functional Decline in Patients With and Without Peripheral Arterial Disease J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 7, 2006; 47(5): 998 - 1004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S D Hutcheon, N D Gillespie, I K Crombie, A D Struthers, and M E T McMurdo Perindopril improves six minute walking distance in older patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a randomised double blind placebo controlled trial Heart, October 1, 2002; 88(4): 373 - 377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. F. Binder, J. P. Miller, and L. J. Ball Development of a Test of Physical Performance for the Nursing Home Setting Gerontologist, October 1, 2001; 41(5): 671 - 679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Solway, D. Brooks, Y. Lacasse, and S. Thomas A Qualitative Systematic Overview of the Measurement Properties of Functional Walk Tests Used in the Cardiorespiratory Domain Chest, January 1, 2001; 119(1): 256 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text]