EFFECTS OF MAXIMALLY TOLERATED ORAL-THERAPY ON THE 6-MINUTE WALKING TEST IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE SECONDARY TO EITHER ISCHEMIC OR IDIOPATHIC DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

In patients with heart failure, therapy with ''maximally tolerated'' o ral doses of diuretics, vasodilators, and digitalis results in a signi ficant increase in the distance walked during the B-minute walking tes t, compared with conventional therapy at ''standard'' doses, indicatin g an improvement in exercise tolerance. The 6-minute walk test is a si mple, inexpensive, and well-tolerated test to measure changes in exerc ise tolerance induced by pharmacologic interventions, even on a short- term basis.