Oxygen consumption during corridor walk testing in chronic cardiac failure

We have examined the use of a 6-min corridor walk test in the assessment of functional capacity in 16 patients with chronic cardiac failure. VO2 was determined concurrently by a portable 'Oxylog'. Three tests were performed sequentially, and although there was a significant increase in distance walked and highest VO2 achieved between the first and second tests, good reproducibility was attained between the second and third tests. Both walk test variables correlated well with previously determined peak achieved VO2, and NYHA classes were separated adequately. Corridor walk testing, with or without measurement of VO2 should be a useful adjunct to maximal exercise testing in interventional studies.