Impact of Chronic Heart Failure on 6 Minute Walk Distance and Quality of Life

Abstract

Background and Aims

Exercise intolerance, poor prognosis, and poor quality of life are the hallmarks of chronic heart failure. Quality of life and physiological well-being has been demonstrated to deteriorate more seriously in patients with chronic heart failure. Hence, this study aimed to find relationship of Six Minute walk distance and Quality of Life with the severity (ejection fraction) of Heart failure.

Methods and Results

50 patients aged 45-75 years with chronic heart failure (ejection fraction less than 40% belonging to NYHA class II-III ) were included in the study. They were asked to fill the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire after which subjects performed  6 minute walk test as per American Thoracic Society guidelines. Spearman’s rank order correlation coefficient test revealed a weak positive correlation between ejection fraction and 6 MWD(r= 0.22, p=0.124) and a weak negative correlation between ejection fraction and QOL (r= -0.23, p=0.11) which was statistically not significant.

Conclusion

There is no relationship of 6 minute walk distance and quality of life with the severity (ejection fraction) in patients with chronic heart failure.