Changes in cardiovascular response to Six‐minute walk test in some chronic heart failure patients

Objective estimates of cardiovascular performance and fitness can be obtained through standardized exercise tests. This study was to evaluate the cardiovascular responses of Nigerian population of adult patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) to the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT). Participants were 15 adult patients with CHF and 30 age‐matched, apparently healthy individuals with no history of cardiovascular disorders. Ethical clearance was secured from the institutional committee and informed consent obtained from the subjects. On the day of exercise, pre‐test cardiovascular parameters – heart rate (HR), respiratory rate and blood pressure (systolic ‐SBP and diastolic ‐DBP) – were taken; after which the subjects went through the standardized procedures of 6MWT. Differences between the pre‐test and post‐test values and percentage differences were computed. For male and female study and control subjects, paired t ‐tests were used to evaluate the significance differences between the pre‐test and post‐test mean values of HR, SBP and DBP. After the 6MWT in male patients, there was 9% increase in HR while female patients had an 8.5% increase (P>0.05). The male control subjects had a 13.4% increase while female control subjects had 9% increase (P>0.05). Significant increases were obtained in DBP for male patients, male control subjects and female control subjects. The 6MWT is a safe and simple instrument for demonstrating cardiovascular responses to sub‐maximal exercise in patients with heart disease and will be useful in compromised communities with limited resources.