Key result
Below-median 6MWT distance in heart failure is linked to lower SF-36 but not MLHFQ scores.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to assess the relationship between the six-minute walk test and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure.
Observational (n=46)
In patients with chronic heart failure, a shorter 6MWT distance is associated with lower HRQL as measured by the SF-36, but not the MLHFQ, highlighting differences in what these tools capture.
Shorter 6MWT distance was associated with lower SF-36 HRQL in chronic HF; leaves open differential instrument utility and requires prospective validation.
Objectives. To assess the relationship between the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic heart failure. Methods. Forty-six patients (37 men and 9 women) with chronic heart failure, mean age 68 (SD 9), NYHA II-III and EF 29 (9) % were included. They performed 6MWT and assessed HRQL using two tools, a Swedish version of the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). This was performed repeatedly during a study period of one year. Results. Patients with a walking distance lower than median experienced a lower HRQL than the higher performing half of the cohort, in four dimensions of the SF-36 and the summary of physical and mental components, but not in the dimensions of MLHFQ. Conclusion. Patients with heart failure with a short walking distance assessed their quality of life as inferior in half of the dimensions in the SF-36 but not in the dimensions measured with the MLHFQ. Thus, different aspects of the symptomatology are uncovered using the 6MWT and the different HRQL tools.
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Lans et al. (2022) conducted an observational in chronic heart failure (n=46). Six-minute walk distance lower than median vs. Six-minute walk distance higher than median was evaluated on Health-related quality of life (SF-36 and MLHFQ). A six-minute walk distance lower than the median was associated with lower health-related quality of life on the SF-36, but not the MLHFQ, in patients with chronic heart failure.
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