Key result
Two-minute step test detects reduced functional capacity in CHF using a 94-step cut-off.
Why the study?
The 6MWT assesses functional capacity in CHF but is limited by space and logistics, whereas the 2MST is a practical alternative requiring an optimal cut-off for reduced functional capacity.
Does the two-minute step test (2MST) accurately assess functional capacity compared to the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with chronic heart failure?
Cross-Sectional (n=60)
No
Does the two-minute step test (2MST) accurately assess functional capacity compared to the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with chronic heart failure?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
The two-minute step test with a cut-off of ≥94 steps is a feasible and accurate alternative to the six-minute walk test for assessing functional capacity in stable heart failure patients.
Background and Objectives:The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used to assess functional capacity in chronic heart failure (CHF) but is limited by space and logistics.The two-minute step test (2MST) is a practical alternative.This study aimed to determine an optimal 2MST cut-off for reduced functional capacity and compare its responses with the 6MWT.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 clinically stable patients with CHF (mean age 51.45±12.65 years; 77% male) completed the 2MST, 6MWT, and quadriceps maximal voluntary contraction assessments.Physiological and perceptual responses were recorded at baseline, immediately after, and five minutes post-test.Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the optimal 2MST cut-off.Adjusted regression examined functional associations, and responses were compared between tests.Results: A 2MST cut-off of ≥94 steps showed good discrimination for reduced functional capacity (area under the curve, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.92;sensitivity, 82.9%; specificity, 64.0%).In adjusted analyses, the cut-off remained independently associated with greater six-minute walk distance and lower post-exercise leg fatigue (p=0.001),but not with quadriceps strength.Compared with the 6MWT, the 2MST induced greater post-exercise leg fatigue (p<0.001), while other cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses were similar (p>0.05).Conclusions: The 2MST is a safe and feasible submaximal test for assessing functional capacity in CHF.A 94-step cut-off may help identify patients with reduced functional capacity, particularly when corridor-based testing is not feasible.
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Wutti et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Chronic heart failure (n=60). Two-minute step test (2MST) vs. Six-minute walk test (6MWT) was evaluated on Reduced functional capacity (six-minute walk distance ≤350 m) (AUC 0.818, 95% CI 0.712-0.924). A two-minute step test cut-off of ≥94 steps demonstrated good discrimination for identifying reduced functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure, yielding an area under the curve of 0.82.
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