Poster 22: Comparison between the cardiovascular responses of the 6-minute walk test and that of treadmill testing in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation

Objective: To compare the cardiovascular responses between the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and treadmill exercise test (TET) in patients undergoing a phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation program. Design: Prospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care general hospital. Participants: 25 patients with coronary artery disease, functional class 1 based on New York Heart Association classification, who will undergo phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation. Interventions: Patients underwent the 6MWT and the treadmill stress test. Cardiovascular parameters were tabulated, compared, and analyzed. Main Outcome Measures: Peak heart rate, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, and mean arterial blood pressure. Results: The cardiovascular responses to the 6MWT were significantly of lower magnitude compared with those of the treadmill stress test. Paired t test revealed significant differences between the means ± SD of the heart rate (6MWT, 89±13; TET, 132±30; P<.00), SBP (6MWT, 134±13; TET, 161±21; P<.05) and DBP (6MWT, 82±9; TET, 94±8; P<.00), and mean arterial blood pressure (6MWT, 117±10; TET, 142±20; P<.01). Conclusion: Care should be taken when interpreting the results of the 6MWT because it may underestimate the true functional capacity of patients with coronary artery disease.