Heart Rate Recovery in the First Minute at the Six-Minute Walk Test in Patients with Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: Heart rate recovery at one minute of rest (HRR(1)) is a predictor of mortality in heart failure (HF), but its prognosis has not been assessed at six-minute walk test (6MWT) in these patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the HRR(1) at 6MWT in patients with HF and its correlation with six-minute walk distance (6MWD). METHODS: Cross-sectional, controlled protocol with 161 individuals, 126 patients with stable systolic HF, allocated into 2 groups (G1 and G2) receiving or not β-blocker and 35 volunteers in control group (G3) had HRR(1) recorded at the 6MWT. RESULTS: HRR(1) and 6MWD were significantly different in the 3 groups. Mean values of HRR(1) and 6MWD were: HRR(1) = 12 ± 14 beat/min G1; 18 ± 16 beat/min G2 and 21 ± 13 beat/min G3; 6MWD = 423 ± 102 m G1; 396 ± 101m G2 and 484 ± 96 m G3 (p < 0.05). Results showed a correlation between HRR(1) and 6MWD in G1(r = 0.3; p = 0.04) and in G3(r = 0.4; p= 0.03), but not in G2 (r= 0.12; p= 0.48). CONCLUSION: HRR(1) response was attenuated in patients using βB and showed correlation with 6MWD, reflecting better exercise tolerance. HRR(1) after 6MWT seems to represent an alternative when treadmill tests could not be tolerated.