Oxygen consumption during corridor walk testing in chronic cardiac failure

Abstract

We have examined the use of a 6-min corridor walk test in the assessment of functional capacity in 16 patients with chronic cardiac failure. VO₂ was determined concurrently by a portable ‘Oxylog’. Three tests were performed sequentially, and although there was a significant increase in distance walked and highest VO₂ achieved between the first and second tests, good reproducibility was attained between the second and third tests. Both walk test variables correlated well with previously determined peak achieved VO₂, and NY HA classes were separated adequately. Corridor walk testing, with or without measurement of VO₂ should be a useful adjunct to maximal exercise testing in interventional studies.