Six-minute walk distance predicts 30-day readmission after acute heart failure hospitalization

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the relationship between 6-min walk test distance (6MWD) and 30-day readmission in hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients.

Background: 6MWD is known to predict hospitalizations in outpatients with HF, but its ability to predict recidivism in hospitalized HF patients is relatively unknown.

Methods: Seventy-one hospitalized HF patients with NYHA Class II/III (mean age 52.6 ± 12.3 years, 42.3% female, 73.2% African American) performed 6MWD prior to discharge. Logistic regression was used to determine relationships between 6MWD and 30-day readmission.

Results: 30-day readmission occurred in 14 (19.7%) patients. Average 6MWD was 756.4 ± 403.2 feet. Higher 6MWD significantly decreased risk of 30-day readmission, even after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics (OR = .84, 95% CI [.71, .99]). For each additional 100 feet walked, odds of a 30-day readmission decreased by 16%.

Conclusions: 6MWD predicted 30-day readmission in this study, warranting further investigation to understand how the 6MWD may predict readmissions and guide treatment in hospitalized HF patients.

Keywords: 30-day readmission; Functional capacity; Heart failure; Six-minute walk test; Survival analysis.