Segurança da realização precoce do teste de caminhada de seis minutos após infarto agudo do miocárdio

Abstract

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is practical, simple and low-cost test to assess the submaximal level of functional capacity in patients and health subjects. However, the implementation of 6MWT in early phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not clear. The main characteristic 6MWT is that patients themselves can control intensity of exercise and is allowed to stop and rest during the test. Thus the 6MWT can be a safe and viable alternative to evaluate submaximal level of functional capacity in early phase of AMI. The aim this study was to assess the safety of performing 6MWT in uncomplicated AMI patients in 24 hours after Coronary Care Unit (CCU) discharge. One hundred fifty-two patients with AMI carried out 6MWT, 105 with Holter. Sixty-six patients were submitted to test until in 4 days post cardiac event and 86 after it. The statistical analyses were performed using univariate analysis, Chi-Square, Students t and Mann-Whitney test. All the patients concluded 6MWT, the cardiovascular response was physiological and the frequency of important complications was 4%, no statistic difference among the groups. That patients with important complications had anterior wall acute myocardial infarction, multivessel coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction. The 6MWT was safe and viable to early assess functional status of patients with uncomplicated AMI.