• Carlo Rostagno and Gian Franco Gensini.
• SOD Cardiologia Generale 1, AOU Careggi Firenze, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134, Firenze, Italy. c.rostagno@katamail.com
• Intern Emerg Med. 2008 Sep 1; 3 (3): 205-12.

AbstractIn heart failure survival is closely related to functional capacity. Peak O2 consumption at cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of exercise tolerance. Since >70% of patients with heart failure, usually elderly or with significant comorbidities, are referred to Departments of Internal Medicine where facilities for cardiopulmonary test are rarely available, CPET may be performed in <5% of the patients. Six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been proposed as a simple, inexpensive, reproducible alternative to CPET. The 6MWT reproduces the activity of daily life and this is particularly relevant in elderly patients who usually develop symptoms below their theoretical maximal exercise capacity. Despite some limits 6MWT is attractive for patients referred to Departments of Internal Medicine allowing an objective evaluation of exercise tolerance, a better prognostic evaluation and a guide to evaluate response to medical treatment.

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