814 patients (age 63years, 68% males) with CHF underwent a six-minute walk test in a therapeutic unit of heart failure. Clinical data, biological and echocardiographic parametres were campared. We divided patients for 3 groups: group 1: 6MWD <300m (n=740), group 2: 300<6MWD<450 m (n=54) and group 3: 6MWD >450m (n=20). 154 patients (19%) were in NYHA functionnal class III: 96% (n=148) patients in group 1, 3% (n=5) in group2 and 1% (n=1) in group 3 (p=0.04).
Age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, Ischemic heart disease, strock attack did not differ among the groups. However male sex, diastolic dysfunction (p=0.01), right ventricular systolic dysfunction (p<0.0001), hospitaliszation rate for cardiac decompensation (p<0.0001), high heart rate were higher in the group with 6MWF <300 m.
In systolic heart failure outpatients, lower functional capacity during six minute walk is associated with more hospitalizations for cardiac decompensation, more diastolic dysfunction and right ventricular systolic dys-function with good correlation with NYHA functionnal class.