Cardiac functional capacity :Do not under-estimate the value of 6 minute walk test !

6 minute walk test is the simplest of all functional testing in cardiac evaluation . Though  walking  is  a routine day to day motion ,  it is  essentially  a hemo-dynamic stress for the  heart ,  especially so for an ailing heart . Even though  it appears  simplest  of all investigation  there are strict guidelines  available for performing  this . It is  surprising  American thoracic society  has come out  with a  specific guideline for this .Many of us  are not aware of  existence of such guideline   ,  hence this post  , with courtesy of ATS I am  giving a link.     Guyatt G. H.,Sullivan M. J.,Thompson P. J.,(1985)  The six-minute walk: a new measure of exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure. Can. Med. Assoc. J. 132:919–923. Butland R. J. A.,Pang J.,Gross E. R.,(1982) Two, six, and 12 minute walking tests in respiratory disease. B.M.J. 284:1607–1608. History and genesis of the concept It was originally used in COPD in 1976 with a 12 minute walk .Cardiologists abbreviated it to 6 mts for their convenience. McGavin CR, Gupta SP, McHardy GJR. Twelve minute walking test  for assessing disability in chronic bronchitis. Br Med J 1976;i:822-3. In modern times we have an Android application  for 6 minute walk test
Source: Dr.S.Venkatesan MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Cardiology Risk assesment Clinical cardiology 6 minute walk test american thoracic society guidelines 6 six minute walk ats guidleines for 6 minute walk test cardiac functional capacity nyha vs 6 minutes walk test six minute walk test Source Type: blogs