An Assessment of Cardiovascular Functional Capacity of a Group of Chronic Heart Failure Patients Using the 6-Minute Walk Test in a Cameroonian Urban Setting

Felicité Kamdem; Chris Nadège Nganou–Gnindjio; Dieudonné Danwé; Franc Christ-Roi Soemessabot; Elysée Claude Bika Lele; Bâ Hamadou; Sidick Mouliom; Lade Viché; Henri Ngoté; Caroline Kenmegne; Marie Solange Ndom Ebongue; Siddikatou Djibrilla; William Ngatchou

doi:10.4236/wjcd.2023.136024

January 1, 2023World Journal of Cardiovascular DiseasesOpen Access

An Assessment of Cardiovascular Functional Capacity of a Group of Chronic Heart Failure Patients Using the 6-Minute Walk Test in a Cameroonian Urban Setting

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Why the study?

Chronic heart failure has a high mortality rate and decreases functional capacity and quality of life, prompting evaluation of functional capacity using the 6-minute walk test in this setting.

Key Points

To assess cardiovascular functional capacity using the 6-minute walk test among patients diagnosed with stable chronic heart failure.
Conducted a cross-sectional study over 4 months in the cardiology unit of Douala General Hospital in Cameroon.
Recruited 81 adults (mean age 65.9 ± 10.6 years; 61.7% female) with stable chronic heart failure, excluding patients with acute coronary syndrome within one month, tachycardia, uncontrolled hypertension, or orthopedic mobility impairments.
Administered the 6-minute walk test following American Thoracic Society standards, categorizing functional performance as poor (≤450 m) or good (>450 m).
Six-minute walk test performance was poor in 55.6% of patients, average in 19.8%, and good in 24.7%, with 59.3% reporting the walking effort as difficult.
Left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved in 42.0% of participants and mildly altered in 46.9%.
Cardiovascular functional capacity showed statistically significant associations with patient age, clinical stage of heart failure, and physical activity level.

Structured PICO

P

Population

81 adults (aged 18 years or more) with stable chronic heart failure, mean age 65.9, 61.7% women, in a Cameroonian urban setting (Douala). Exclusions: acute coronary syndrome (≤1 month), tachycardia (HR ≥ 120 bpm), high blood pressure (SBP ≥ 180 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 100 mmHg), and reduced mobility due to orthopaedic reasons.

I

Intervention

6-minute walk test (6 MWT)

O

Outcome

Cardiovascular functional capacity assessed by 6 MWT distance (poor < 300 m, average 300 - 450 m, good > 450 m)surrogate

More than half of stable chronic heart failure patients in a Cameroonian urban setting demonstrated poor cardiovascular functional capacity on the 6-minute walk test, which correlated with advancing age, higher NYHA class, and lack of physical activity.

Limitations

Small sample size
Depression and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide were not assessed
Association between performance on the 6 MWT and echocardiographic parameters such as E/E' and E wave deceleration time were not evaluated

Implication

High prevalence of poor 6MWT capacity in stable HF warrants caution in assessment; leaves open whether targeting age, NYHA class, and inactivity improves outcomes.

Abstract

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Discussion

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Cite This Study

Kamdem et al. (2023) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a81f1dd95a7228aa906d76a https://doi.org/10.4236/wjcd.2023.136024

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An Assessment of Cardiovascular Functional Capacity of a Group of Chronic Heart Failure Patients Using the 6-Minute Walk Test in a Cameroonian Urban Setting

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

An Assessment of Cardiovascular Functional Capacity of a Group of Chronic Heart Failure Patients Using the 6-Minute Walk Test in a Cameroonian Urban Setting

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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