Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate (1) the validity of using the Human Activity Profile (HAP) in patients with heart failure (HF) to estimate functional capacity; (2) the association between the HAP and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) distance; and (3) the ability of the HAP to differentiate between New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes.
METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated 62 clinically stable patients with HF (mean age, 47.98 years; NYHA class I-III). Variables included maximal functional capacity as measured by peak oxygen uptake (
O2) using a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), peak
O2 as estimated by the HAP, and exercise capacity as measured by the 6MWT.
RESULTS: The difference between the measured (CPET) and estimated (HAP) peak
O2 against the average values showed a bias of 2.18 mL/kg/min (P = .007). No agreement was seen between these measures when applying the Bland-Altman method. Peak
O2 in the HAP showed a moderate association with the 6MWT distance (r = 0.62; P < .0001). Peak
O2 in the HAP was able to statistically differentiate NYHA functional classes I, II, and III (P < .05).
CONCLUSIONS: The estimated peak
O2 using the HAP was not concordant with the gold standard CPET measure. On the contrary, the HAP was able to differentiate NYHA functional class associated with the 6MWT distance; therefore, the HAP is a useful tool for assessing functional performance in patients with HF.