A Study of the Reliability, Validity, and Physiological Changes of Sit-to-Stand Tests in People With Heart Failure

Correlation of Sit-to-Stand Test and 6-Minute Walk Test to Illustrate Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Systolic Heart Failure Patients

OBJECTIVE

To prove 5-time sit-to-stand (5-STS) and 30-second sit-to-stand (30sSTS) tests in assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in chronic heart failure (HF) patients with systolic dysfunction. Alternative tests, such as 5-STS and 30sSTS, may be used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with HF but have not been thoroughly evaluated. Thus, this study aimed to prove 5-STS and 30sSTS tests in assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in chronic HF patients with systolic dysfunction.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was done, evaluating chronic HF patients with systolic dysfunction that have received optimal guideline directed medical treatment for at least 3 months. All patients underwent the same intervention on the same day, starting with an initial 5-STS test, followed by a 30sSTS, and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT).

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients were enrolled in this study. The median left ventricular ejection fraction was 44% (interquartile range=34%-48%). Mean values of 5-STS, 30sSTS, and 6MWT were 13.90±4.72, 13.29±3.38, and 463.65±87.04, respectively. 5-STS showed moderate correlation with 6MWT (r=-0.436, p=0.01). However, the 30sSTS revealed strong correlation with 6MWT (r=0.629, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The 30sSTS test had strong correlation with 6MWT. It could be used to illustrate cardiorespiratory fitness in chronic HF patients with systolic dysfunction.

The five times sit-to-stand test predicts achievable exercise intensity during stress echocardiography

Aims

Exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) is becoming increasingly important in assessing heart failure and valvular diseases; however, determining optimal exercise intensity remains challenging, particularly in patients with physical disorders.

Methods and results

A total of 94 patients scheduled for ESE were enrolled in the study. Physical capability was assessed using the five times sit-to-stand test (5-STS), Clinical Frailty Scale, acronyms of the five components, namely strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls (SARC-F) questionnaire, grip strength test, and bioelectrical impedance analysis. In the derivation cohort (n = 43), we determined the 5-STS cut-off value to achieving a 25 W load. The effectiveness of this cut-off value was prospectively evaluated in a validation cohort (n = 51). In the derivation cohort, the 5-STS predicted achieving a 25 W load using a cut-off of 11.7 s with 91% sensitivity and 70% specificity. In the validation cohort, using 12.0 s as the cut-off demonstrated 98% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The multivariate analysis identified age, sex (female), brain natriuretic peptide, SARC-F, and 5-STS as independent predictors of maximum achieved load. In a multivariate model including bioelectrical impedance parameters, lower limb muscle mass independently influenced maximum achievable load, regardless of age. Patients with optimized 5-STS-based load selection achieved significantly higher peak heart rates and maximum loads than those without.

Conclusion

Sarcopenia-related indices, particularly the 5-STS, effectively and simply predicted achievable exercise intensity during ESE, independent of age and sex. The use of these indices to determine the initial load may help optimize ESE protocols for individual patients.

Assessing Static Balance, Balance Confidence, and Fall Rate in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Comprehensive Analysis

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome, associated with frailty, higher fall rates, and frequent hospitalizations. Heart Failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is defined as a condition where a patient with HF have a diagnosis of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥ 50%. The risk of HFpEF increases with age and is related to higher non-cardiovascular mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate static balance and examine the effect of task difficulty on the discriminating power of balance control between patients with HFpEF (Patients with HFpEF) and their healthy controls. Moreover, the associations between static balance parameters, balance confidence, falls, lean muscle mass, and strength were assessed. Seventy two patients with HFpEF (mean age: 66.0 ± 11.6 years) and seventy two age- and gender-matched healthy individuals (mean age: 65.3 ± 9.5 years) participated in this study. Participants underwent a 30 s bilateral stance (BS) test and a 20 s Tandem-Romberg stance (TRS) on a force platform, evaluating the Range and Standard Deviation of Center of Pressure (COP) displacement parameters in both axes. Balance confidence was evaluated by the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, and the number of falls during the last year was recorded. Lower limb strength was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer, isometric leg strength, and a Sit-to-Stand test. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was conducted to assess lean fat mass, lean fat mass index, and lean%. Patients with HFpEF presented with lower static balance in BS and TRS compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05), lower balance confidence by 21.5% (p < 0.05), and a higher incidence of falls by 72.9% (p < 0.05). BS was a better descriptor of the between-group difference. Furthermore, static balance, assessed in controlled lab conditions, was found to have little if no relationship to falls, strength, lean muscle mass, and balance confidence. Although no correlation was noted between the static balance parameters and falls, the fall rate was related to balance confidence, age, muscle strength, and lean fat.

The 6-minute walk test and fall risk in patients with heart failure: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Given the increased risk of falls in patients with heart failure (HF), there is limited information in the literature about the possible relationship between fall risk and functional capacity.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between functional capacity and fall risk in patients with HF and to determine whether there are differences in clinical parameters between patients with and without fall risk.

METHODS

The study included 64 patients with HF. The Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) determined the fall risk. Functional capacity was assessed with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the timed up-and-go test (TUG), and the five times sit-to-stand (5-STS) test were used to evaluate functional balance and mobility. Comorbidities and dyspnea perception were assessed with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), respectively.

RESULTS

The 6MWT was associated with fall risk in logistic regression with an odds ratio of 0.979 (0.970-0.989, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the 6MWT had a discriminative value for increased fall risk in patients with HF, with a cutoff value of 248 m. Patients with increased fall risk had lower 6MWT distance, BBS, and gait speed, and higher CCI and mMRC, number of falls, duration of TUG and 5STS compared to patients with no increased fall risk (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The study results demonstrated that 6MWT may be a clinically useful tool in quickly identifying potential balance problems and increased fall risk by providing insight into fall risk/balance confidence in addition to assessing functional capacity.