Article

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 (>8years from
baseline). METHODS: Patients undertook a 6-MWT at baseline and at
one year, and were followed up for 8years 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 -12m;
P=0.533). During a median follow-up of 8.0years 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 1year, 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 1year. The 6-MWT
distance at 1year carries similar prognostic information.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS