Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2021; 116(5): 896-897

The Six-Minute Step Test as an Alternative for Functional Capacity Assessment in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases

Raphael Mendes Ritti-Dias, Breno Quintella

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20210252

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "The Six-Minute Step Test as a Predictor of Functional Capacity according to Peak VO₂ in Cardiac Patients".

Functional capacity is an important morbimortality marker in patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.^, Although the direct measurement of peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak), using cardiopulmonary tests (the gold standard), is the most adequate method for assessing functional capacity, its use in clinical practice is still restricted due to its high cost.^,

The 6-minute step test (6MST), in addition to being fast, has as its main advantage the need for minimum space for its performance. These factors, added to the fact that it does not require audible signals, become very attractive for its use in clinics and hospitals. Step tests have been used for a long time to assess functional capacity, especially in healthy individuals or those with lung diseases. In patients with pulmonary diseases, a positive correlation (r = 0.76) was observed between the 6MST and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a test that requires more space to be carried out. Interestingly, correlation data between the 6MST and the direct measurement of functional capacity are scarce, especially in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

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