Comparing the Responses During the Sit-to-Stand Tests with the Six-Minute Walk Tests in Heart Failure

Exercise training is highly recommended for heart failure (HF) as it has been shown to improve exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) and reduce hospital readmissions. Even though centre-based programmes are beneficial, poor adherence and high dropout rates, which worsened with pandemic regulations, highlight the need for developing exercise training that can be delivered remotely. The assessment of exercise capacity, both as an outcome and for exercise prescription, remains essential to any program. While the six-minute-walk test (6MWT) remains the gold standard, the ability to perform this test remotely remains problematic. Sit to stand tests (STST), such as the 60 second sit-to-stand test (STST-60) and 30 second sit-to-stand tests (STST-30) are another measure of exercise capacity in HF that are currently underutilised. The STST can be easily performed in the home and monitored remotely, but has not been studied or compared with the six-minute walk test in people with HF. Purpose: To examine and compare the physiological and non-invasive haemodynamic responses to the STST (1 minute and 30s) and the six-minute walk test in 25 stable HF patients. Methods: An experienced physiotherapist will identify potential patients and then email a physiotherapy honours student. The honours student will ring those participants to organise a time to come. Each participant will attend the laboratory at Griffith University on the Gold Coast on three separate occasions. Participants will be seen one-on-one and each session will be conducted by an experienced physiotherapist/exercise physiologist and a physiotherapy honours student. During the first visit the participant will be familiarised with all procedures and complete measurements of lower limb quadriceps strength and body composition using Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). On the next two experimental visits the participant will complete either two 6MWT or two STST (a 1min-STST and a STST-30). The two tests each visit will be conducted approximately 30 minutes apart. During one of the 6MWT and during both of the STST pulmonary gas exchange will be measured using a portable metabolic system (Metamax, Cortex BXB, Leipzig, GER). Each visit will be approximately one-hour in duration and experimental visits will be approximately one week apart. Approximately 2 days after the experimental visits, each participant will be contacted via telephone regarding the onset of any muscle soreness.