Association between the 6-minute walk test and exercise confidence in patients with heart failure: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Exercise confidence predicts exercise adherence in heart failure (HF) patients. The association between simple tests of functional capacity on exercise confidence are not known.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between a single 6-min walk test (6MWT) and exercise confidence in HF patients.

METHODS: Observational study enrolling HF outpatients who completed the Cardiac Depression Scale and an Exercise Confidence Survey at baseline and following the 6MWT. Paired t-test was used to compare repeated-measures data, while Repeated Measures Analysis of Covariance was used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS: 106 HF patients were enrolled in the study (males, 82%; mean age, 64 ± 12 years). Baseline Exercise Confidence was inversely associated with age (p < 0.01), NYHA class (p < 0.001), and depression (p < 0.001). The 6MWT was associated with an improvement in Exercise Confidence (F(1,92) = 5.0, p = 0.03) after adjustment for age, gender, HF duration, NYHA class and depression.

CONCLUSIONS: The 6MWT is associated with improved exercise confidence in HF patients.