International Journal of the Cardiovascular Academy (Jan 2022)

Pulmonary hypertension and exercise tolerance in heart failure patients

  • Ogbomo Aisosa,
  • John Osaretin Osarenkhoe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/ijca.ijca_7_22
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
pp. 41 – 45

Abstract

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Background: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a useful tool in assessing patients' outcomes: morbidity and mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. It also helps in monitoring the effect of medications being developed for treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) as well as response to therapeutic interventions in HF and may better reflect the functional exercise level for daily physical activities of HF patients. Aim: This study aims to describe how exercise tolerance of HF patients with PH may differ from that in HF patients without PH as assessed using the 6MWT. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which 65 patients each in two groups of HF patients with and without PH were sampled. All patients had their body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure assessed. In addition, all patients had echocardiography done and 6-min walk distance assessed. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: There were more females than men who participated in the study. That heart failure (HF) patients with PH walked less distance in six minutes compared to HF without PH. The total distance walked in 6 min was farther in males, younger HF patients <50 years, patients with a higher BMI, and patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Furthermore, a negative significant correlation was observed between mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) and total distance walked in 6 min in all 130 HF patients (r = −0.17; P = 0.005) with a significant correlation between left ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.50; P < 0.001), MPAP (r = −0.24; P = 0.050), and total distance walked in HF patients with PH. Conclusion: This study's findings indicate that worse outcomes await HF patients with concurrent PH. Thus, continuous monitoring of their exercise tolerance capacity using the 6MWT is of significant clinical benefit as part of their overall management.

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