Abstract : The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple, reliable, and non-invasive method potentially used in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. However, the performance of 6MWT in patients with CAD data are limited. This study aimed to describe distance, hemodynamic consequences, symptoms, and arrhythmias related the 6MWT in CAD patients. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study by retrieving medical records. We consecutively recruited all CAD patients without surgical treatment and underwent the 6MWT before discharge from the hospital in the period of August until September 2019. Data were analysed with the paired T-test using SPSS version 21.0. We enrolled 75 CAD patients aged 57.95±10.86 years old, 84.2% of them were male with BMI of 26.09±6.50 kg/m-2. Of all subjects, 34.7% of patients were CAD 1 vessel disease (VD), 26.7% were CAD 2VD, and 38.7% were CAD 3VD. The average 6- minute walk distance achieved was 355.12±111.90 meters, with predicted VO2 max 14.26 ±2.98 ml/kg/minute and the average of patients’ functional capacity was 4.22±0.91 METs. There were significant increases in systolic blood pressure (BP) (119.76±19.42mmHg to 124.04±18.13mmHg, p= 0.001), diastolic BP (75.29±9.89mmHg to 77.65±10.89mmHg, p=0.004), heart rate (78.53±13.61bpm to 87.55±13.18 bpm, p<0.001), respiration rate (19.73±1.06 per minute to 20.97±1.78 per minute, p<0.001), and reduction of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) (97.03±1.39% to 96.36±1.65%, p<0.001). Several complications occurred during the 6MWT including angina (1.3%), dyspnea (1.3%), dizziness (2.6%), nausea (1.3%), lower limbs discomfort (2.6%), systolic BP reduction≥10 mmHg (10.6%), desaturation (SpO2<90%) (1.3%). ST-segment depression occurred in 1.3% patients and ventricular extra-systoles (VES) appeared in 11.9% patients. The 6-minute walk test distance achieved in CAD patients is modest. The 6MWT significantly affects hemodynamic status, causes mild symptoms and transient mild arrhythmias.
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