Publication:

Six-minute walking test distance predicts readmission in hospitalized heart failure patient in integrated cardiac centre, Makassar, Indonesia

Background Assessment of functional capacity prior to discharge can help identify patients at risk for readmissions in heart failure patients. This research aims to conduct a study in order to assess the distance traveled in the six-minute walk test (6-MWT) as a predictor of readmission rates in patients with congestive heart failure.

Methods This type of research is a quantitative correlational study with a prospective cohort study experimental design. Data were collected when the patient was treated at the Integrated Cardiac Center of Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital with a diagnosis of heart failure. The research was conducted from June 2019 to December 2019 after obtaining clearance from the institutional ethical committee. 6-MWT measures the distance that a patient can quickly walk on a flat, hard surface in a period of 6-MWD. To see the correlation between the components of 6-MWT the readmission using one-way anova. To determine the cut-off point, sensitivity and specificity of each component of the 6-MWT to rehospitalization using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS and SAP programs.

Results Out of the 93 samples, the 6-MWD has a significant p<0.001 for the readmission incidence≤30 days, meaning that the higher the 6-MWT value, it correlates with the decrease in the number of readmission incidents. In the ROC curve analysis for the 6-MWD parameter, it was found that the 6-MWD had a good predictability of readmission events in≤30 days (C=0.781, p<0.001).

Conclusions 6-MWD can be used to predict readmissions in≤30 days in heart failure patients. The lower the 6-MWD with a cut off of 183 meters, the higher the risk of readmission in≤30 days of heart failure patients. By knowing the cut off value, 6-MWD can be used as a reference to create a comprehensive treatment flow for heart failure patients to prevent increased readmission rates. In the end, it can reduce the burden of treatment costs on heart failure patients.