Functional Capacity Assessment in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure through the Six-minute Walk Test in the Cardiology Department of Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Burkina Faso

Functional Capacity Assessment in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure through the Six-minute Walk Test in the Cardiology Department of Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Burkina Faso

Objectives: We aim to evaluate functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure, using the six-minute walk test in the cardiology department of Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital.

Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective study from December 1st 2013 to March 31st 2014. Hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure who gave their informed consent were included. Functional exercise capacity was assessed through the six-minute walk test and quality of life appreciated through the SF- 36 questionnaire which was filled at the time of discharge and at six weeks post discharge.

Results: We included sixty one patients in our study and 32 of them were female (52%). The mean age was 46.9 ± 14.1 years old. Seventy percent of patients had NYHA stage II dyspnea. The mean ejection fraction was 32.4 ± 8.2% (extremes: 13 and 45%). The mean distance walked during the six-minute walk test was 336.3 ± 65 m at the time of discharge and 367.9 ± 68.7 m six weeks later. The mean gain between these measurements was 23.7 ± 31.5 m. The distance walked was 347.1 m for patients who had NYHA class I - II dyspnea and 303.3 for those ranked NYHA class III (p<0.05) at the time of enrollment. The overall physical component’s score in quality of life assessment was 54.3 ± 9.3 points at the time of enrollment. This score was impaired in 29% of patients. A minor statistically significant positive correlation was noticed between the mean distance walked during the six-minute walk test and quality of life linked to physical health. (r=0.18; p=0.017).

Conclusion: Functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure was severely impaired at discharge and was persistent six weeks later in the absence of cardiovascular rehabilitation program.