title: Effects of maximally tolerated oral therapy on the six-minute walking test in patients with chronic congestive heart failure secondary to either ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: In patients with heart failure, therapy with "maximally tolerated" oral doses of diuretics, vasodilators, and digitalis results in a significant increase in the distance walked during the 6-minute walking test, compared with conventional therapy at "standard" doses, indicating an improvement in exercise tolerance. The 6-minute walk test is a simple, inexpensive, and well-tolerated test to measure changes in exercise tolerance induced by pharmacologic interventions, even on a short-term basis.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, S. Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Gussago, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gualeni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Aloia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gentilini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faggiano
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004077:Digoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004077:Digoxin