Pre-Discharge Evaluation in Heart Failure – Additive Predictive Value of the 6-Minute Walking Test to Clinical Scores.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if adding a 6-minute walking test (6MWT) to clinical scores improves the prediction of 12-month mortality in heart failure (HF) patients.
Results Summary
The study found that the 6MWT significantly improved predictive discrimination and risk classification when combined with clinical scores (3C-HF and MAGGIC). Mortality rates differed based on whether patients walked < or ≥376 meters in intermediate and high-risk strata.
Population
466 consecutive HF patients
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Pre-discharge assessment (single test)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3C-HF score | increase | all-cause mortality | HF patients | hazard ratio of 2.650 [95%CI 1.879-3.737] for each one SD increase | predicted | #1 |
MAGGIC score | increase | all-cause mortality | HF patients | hazard ratio of 2.754 [95%CI 1.870-4.056] for each one SD increase | predicted | #2 |
6-minute walking test (6MWT) | decrease | all-cause mortality | HF patients | hazard ratio of 2.080 [95% CI 1.619-2.671] for each one SD decrease in the meters walked | predicted | #3 |
addition of a 6MWT to the 3C-HF score | increase | predictive discrimination | HF patients | c-index 0.793 [95% CI 0.722-0.864] | significantly improved | #4 |
addition of a 6MWT to the 3C-HF score | increase | risk classification | HF patients | integrated discrimination improvement, IDI 0.052 [95% CI 0.024-0.101] | improved | #5 |
addition of a 6MWT to the MAGGIC score | increase | predictive discrimination | HF patients | c-index 0.802 [95% CI 0.733-0.871] | significantly improved | #6 |
addition of a 6MWT to the MAGGIC score | increase | risk classification | HF patients | integrated discrimination improvement, IDI 0.046 [95% CI 0.020-0.102] | improved | #7 |
distance walked <376 m | increase | mortality rates | HF patients in intermediate and high risk strata | - | significantly differed | #8 |
pre-discharge evaluation combining the 6MWT to clinical scores | increase | prediction of 12-month mortality | HF patients | - | improves | #9 |
BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate whether the assessment of functional capacity by the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) might improve the predictive ability of 2 validated clinical scores for risk stratification in heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The Cardiac and Comorbid Conditions HF (3C-HF) and the Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) scores were evaluated in 466 consecutive HF patients who completed a pre-discharge 6MWT. The 12-month event rate was 7.7%. Both the 2 scores and the 6MWT predicted all-cause mortality (all P<0.0001), with a hazard ratio of 2.650 [95%CI 1.879-3.737], 2.754 [95%CI 1.870-4.056] for each one SD increase in the 3C-HF and MAGGIC, respectively, and of 2.080 [95% CI 1.619-2.671] for each one SD decrease in the meters walked. The addition of a 6MWT to both the 3C-HF and MAGGIC scores significantly improved predictive discrimination (c-index 0.793 [95% CI 0.722-0.864] and 0.802 [95% CI 0.733-0.871], respectively) and risk classification (integrated discrimination improvement, IDI 0.052 [95% CI 0.024-0.101] and 0.046 [95% CI 0.020-0.102], respectively). In the intermediate and high risk strata identified on the basis of both the 3C-HF and MAGGIC scores, mortality rates significantly differed according to a distance walked < or ≥376 m. CONCLUSIONS: In HF patients, a pre-discharge evaluation combining the 6MWT to clinical scores improves prediction of 12-month mortality.