Improvements in Six-Minute Walk Distance and Functional  Status following Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation

Panida Poolpipat; Rachawan  Suksathien

Authors

Panida Poolpipat Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima
Rachawan Suksathien Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima

Keywords:

cardiac rehabilitation, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), outcomes, functional status

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate changes in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (FC) among patients participating in an outpatient phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program

Study design: Retrospective analytic study

Setting: Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Thailand

Participants: A total of 112 patients enrolled in the CR program between January 2022 and September 2024 and who had at least two 6MWD results available were included. Patients with incomplete data were excluded.

Methods: Demographics and clinical data were collected from the medical records of the patients. The 6MWD and the FC were assessed before and after CR program. The program also included exercise prescription, lifestyle and risk-factor modification.

Results: 97 patients (86.6%) had coronary artery disease, and 14 (12.5%) had congestive heart failure. Overall, 61.6% (95% CI: 52.4, 70.1) showed a ≥ 10% improvement in 6MWD from baseline. Prior to the outpatient phase II CR program, 18 patients were in FC I, 78 were in FC II, and 16 were in FC III. After the implementation of the CR program, 83 patients were classified as FC I, and none remained in FC III. In a modified Poisson regression analysis, intermediate-risk patients were 1.6 times more likely to improve than low-risk patients, while a baseline 6MWD < 300 m was independently associated with greater improvement (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.7).

Conclusions: Participation in a structured CR program was associated with significant improvements in 6MWD and FC, with 61.6% of patients achieving ≥ 10% improvement in 6MWD from baseline. Patients with lower baseline 6MWD (< 300 m) and moderate risk stratification appeared to derive greater improvements.

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