Heart rate recovery after 6-min walk test in people with bronchiectasis. A cross-sectional study

A delay in heart rate recovery (HRR) after an exercise test is a factor associated with morbidity and mortality in some cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. However, HRR has not been evaluated yet in people with bronchiectasis Aim: To describe the HRR after the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and explore possible predictors of an abnormal HRR in people with bronchiectasis Methods: Stable adult patients with bronchiectasis were recruited in a two-centre study. Clinical data were collected and 6MWT was performed according to the international guidelines. HRR1 was defined as the change between the HR at the end of the 6MWT and 1 minute after the 6MWT and chronotropic response (CR) was calculated as the peak HR minus resting HR. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were performed to analyse the possible relationship between HRR1 and clinical determinants. Results: 103 participants were evaluated (65±14 years; respectively 27%, 42% and 31% were classified as mild, moderate and severe using the Bronchiectasis Severity Index; distance walked during 6MWT was 508±96 metres). HRR1 showed weak-moderate correlations with the physical and emotional domain of quality of life, cough severity, 6MWT distance, and CR (Fig1). Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that CR was the only independent factor of HRR1 (Fig1). Conclusion: CR was the only independent factor of HRR1 after 6MWT in people with bronchiectasis.