Qualitative analysis indicated moderate evidence for repeatability of the 6MWT in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation , for a 2 % to 8 % learning effect between repeated 6MWTs , for a relationship between peak heart rate during the 6MWT and during cycle exercise at the ventilatory threshold , and for moderate-to-high correlation between the 6-minute walk distance and maximum metabolic equivalents achieved on symptom-limited exercise tests .
Strong evidence suggests that the 6MWT is responsive to clinical change following cardiac rehabilitation .
BACKGROUND The  6-minute walk test ( 6MWT ) is a common outcome measurement in cardiac rehabilitation .
However , a search of the literature found no established guidelines for use of the 6MWT in cardiac rehabilitation .
OBJECTIVES Systematic review of the validity , reliability and responsiveness of the 6MWT in cardiac rehabilitation .
Six-minute walk performance and quality of life comparisons in North Carolina cardiac rehabilitation programs.
OBJECTIVE The purpose s of this study were ( 1 ) . to determine if six-minute walk ( 6MW ) performance improved after short-term cardiac rehabilitation ( CR ) across multiple outpatient programs ; ( 2 ) . to examine differences in 6MW performance by patient age , sex , and race ; and ( 3 ) . to determine what relationships existed , if any , between 6MW performance and subscales of the Ferrans and Powers ' Quality of Life Index-Cardiac Version III ( QOLI ) . DESIGN Study design was nonexperimental , prospect i ve , and comparative . SETTING Study setting included 14 outpatient CR programs from urban and rural setting s across North Carolina . PATIENTS Adults aged 40 to 89 years ( N = 630 ; men = 424 [ 67 % ] , women = 206 [ 33 % ] ; mean age , 61 + /- 10.32 years ) with medically or surgically treated coronary heart disease enrolled in outpatient CR . OUTCOME MEASURES Study measures included scores on the QOLI and distance walked ( feet ) on the 6MW test . RESULTS Six-minute walk tests and QOLI surveys were administered before and immediately after short-term CR participation . Six-minute walk distance increased for all patients in all age categories across programs after CR ( P < .0001 ) . As a group , women improved 6MW distance by 15 % ( 1243.9 + /- 301.2 to 1435.3 + /- 298.1 ; P < .001 ) . Men also improved 6MW distance by 15 % ( 1463.3 + /- 339.5 to 1683.7 + /- 346.9 ; P < .001 ) and walked farther than women on both the initial and follow-up 6MW tests ( P < .0001 ) . By age , there were no differences in 6MW scores between men and women aged 40 to 49 years ( n = 58 ) and 50 to 59 years ( n = 140 ; P = 0.54 ) . Both of these age groups had greater initial and discharge 6MW scores than those aged 70 to 79 years ( n = 183 ) and 80 to 89 years ( n = 22 ; P < .001 ) . Those aged 60 to 69 years ( n = 227 ) had lower 6MW scores than those aged 40 to 49 years ( P = 0.001 ) and 50 to 59 years ( P < .05 ) , and greater scores than those aged 70 to 79 years ( P < .05 ) and 80 to 89 years ( P < .05 ) . Those aged 70 to 79 years had greater initial and follow-up 6MW scores than those aged 80 to 89 years(P < .001 ) . Overall improvements in 6MW performance were found in both white subjects ( n = 575 ; P < .001 ) and African-Americans ( n = 54 ; P < .001 ) . There were no apparent relationships between 6MW performance and overall or Health and Function QOLI scores ( r < .21 ) . CONCLUSIONS Participation in short-term outpatient CR improved 6MW performance in patients aged 40 to 89 years across 14 programs in North Carolina . No relationships were found between 6MW performance and any domain of the QOLI , including the Health and Function domain
Qualitative analysis indicated moderate evidence for repeatability of the 6MWT in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation , for a 2 % to 8 % learning effect between repeated 6MWTs , for a relationship between peak heart rate during the 6MWT and during cycle exercise at the ventilatory threshold , and for moderate-to-high correlation between the 6-minute walk distance and maximum metabolic equivalents achieved on symptom-limited exercise tests .
Strong evidence suggests that the 6MWT is responsive to clinical change following cardiac rehabilitation .
BACKGROUND The  6-minute walk test ( 6MWT ) is a common outcome measurement in cardiac rehabilitation .
However , a search of the literature found no established guidelines for use of the 6MWT in cardiac rehabilitation .
OBJECTIVES Systematic review of the validity , reliability and responsiveness of the 6MWT in cardiac rehabilitation .