Comparison of the studies investigating reliability shows that the 6MWT has good reproducibility .
The 6MWT demonstrates moderate correlation with peak VO(2 ) levels , and ability to predict VO(2 ) ( functional capacity ) dependent on distance walked .
Cut-off distances vary from 300 to 490 meters depending on the study ; if total distance walked remains equal or less than these values , the 6MWT retains its strong predictive value .
The 6MWT has good reliability , moderate validity , and a significant ability to predict functional capacity in patients with CHF who do not walk greater than 490 meters
PURPOSE To evaluate the reliability and validity of the six-minute walk test ( 6MWT ) with respect to its ability to predict functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure .
Does the 6-minute walk test predict the prognosis in patients with NYHA class II or III chronic heart failure?
BACKGROUND We prospect ively evaluated the potential of the 6-minute walk test compared with peak VO2 in predicting outcome of patients with New York Heart Association ( NYHA ) class II or III heart failure . METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with a history of heart failure caused by systolic dysfunction were included . The combined final outcome ( death or hospitalization for heart failure ) was used as the judgment criterion . One hundred twenty-one patients ( age 59+/-11 years ; left ventricular ejection fraction 29.6%+/-13 % ) were included and followed for 1.53+/-0.98 years . Patients were separated into two groups according to outcome : group 1 ( G1 , 74 patients ) , without events , and group 2 ( G2 , 47 patients ) , who reached the combined end point . Peak VO2 was clearly different between G1 and G2 ( 18.5+/-4 vs. 13.9+/-4 ml/kg/min , p=0.0001 ) but not the distance walked ( 448+/-92 vs 410+/-126 m ; p=0.084 , not significant ) . Survival analysis showed that unlike peak VO2 , the distance covered was barely distinguishable between the groups ( p < 0.08 ) . However , receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that the best performances for the  6-minute walk test were obtained for subjects walking < or = 300 m. These patients had a worse prognosis than those walking farther ( p=0.013 ) . In this subset of patients , there was a significant correlation between distance covered and peak VO2 ( r=0.65 , p=0.011 ) . Thus it appears that the more severely affected patients have a daily activity level relatively close to their maximal exercise capacity . Nevertheless , the 300 m threshold suggested by this study needs to be vali date d in an independent population . CONCLUSIONS A distance walked in 6 minutes < or = 300 m can predict outcome . Moreover , in these cases there is a significant correlation between the 6-minute walk test and peak VO2 demonstrating the potential of this simple procedure as a first-line screening test for this subset of patients
Comparison of the studies investigating reliability shows that the 6MWT has good reproducibility .
The 6MWT demonstrates moderate correlation with peak VO(2 ) levels , and ability to predict VO(2 ) ( functional capacity ) dependent on distance walked .
Cut-off distances vary from 300 to 490 meters depending on the study ; if total distance walked remains equal or less than these values , the 6MWT retains its strong predictive value .
The 6MWT has good reliability , moderate validity , and a significant ability to predict functional capacity in patients with CHF who do not walk greater than 490 meters
PURPOSE To evaluate the reliability and validity of the six-minute walk test ( 6MWT ) with respect to its ability to predict functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure .