Pharmacological trials including patients with more severe heart failure were more likely to show a significant improvement with therapy than trials of milder heart failure .
Using mean values in these trials , the age of patients appeared a more important determinant of 6MWT distance than New York Heart Association classification .
The 6MWT has not yet been proven to be a robust test for the identification of effective pharmacological interventions although it appears useful for the assessment of cardiac resynchronization therapy .
The results of the 6MWT were concordant with changes in symptoms , suggesting that it may be used as supportive evidence for symptom benefit .
AIMS The 6 min walk test ( 6MWT ) is commonly used in clinical trials to assess treatments for heart failure , but its ability to distinguish between effective and ineffective treatments is question able .
The aim of this study is to investigate , using a systematic literature review , the utility of the 6MWT as a measure of the effectiveness of treatment in r and omized controlled trials of heart failure .
The Effect of Quinapril on Functional Status of Elderly Patients with Diastolic Heart Failure
Abstract This double-blind , placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of the ACE inhibitor , quinapril , on the functional status of elderly frail heart failure patients with preserved systolic function . Seventy-four elderly patients , mean ( SD ) age 78 ( 7 ) years , with symptomatic heart failure ( NYHA II – III ) and normal or only mildly impaired left ventricular systolic function ( ejection fraction ≥40 % ) were r and omly assigned to receive either quinapril or matched placebo ( titrated to 40 mg/day ) for 6 months . There were no significant differences at baseline in terms of age , cardiac function , aetiology , concomitant treatment , and echocardiographic values between active and placebo groups . Mean 6-minute walk distance increased at six months in the quinapril group [ 241.2 ( 132.0 ) v 267.3 ( 124.0 ) metres , p = 0.04 ] and in the placebo group [ 214.6 ( 114.5 ) v 267.6 ( 117.0 ) metres , p = 0.003 ] . The mean increases between the two groups were not significantly different . There were no significant changes in quality of life scores . The number of adverse drug events was similar in the two groups . Patients in the quinapril group were less likely to have worsening heart failure or to be admitted to hospital but these changes were not statistically significant . Conclusions . The present study confirmed the feasibility of single-centre drug trials in very elderly heart failure patients although recruitment and retention remain problematic . It did not show a beneficial effect of quinapril on exercise tolerance and quality of life in elderly heart failure patients with preserved systolic function
Pharmacological trials including patients with more severe heart failure were more likely to show a significant improvement with therapy than trials of milder heart failure .
Using mean values in these trials , the age of patients appeared a more important determinant of 6MWT distance than New York Heart Association classification .
The 6MWT has not yet been proven to be a robust test for the identification of effective pharmacological interventions although it appears useful for the assessment of cardiac resynchronization therapy .
The results of the 6MWT were concordant with changes in symptoms , suggesting that it may be used as supportive evidence for symptom benefit .
AIMS The 6 min walk test ( 6MWT ) is commonly used in clinical trials to assess treatments for heart failure , but its ability to distinguish between effective and ineffective treatments is question able .
The aim of this study is to investigate , using a systematic literature review , the utility of the 6MWT as a measure of the effectiveness of treatment in r and omized controlled trials of heart failure .