Objective
To assess the validity and reliability of the 6‐min step test (6MST) in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Methods
In a randomized and crossover design, 35 patients with CAD (65.8 ± 9.6 years), referred by a physician of a cardiology ambulatory, performed two 6MSTs and two 6‐min walk tests (6MWTs) in order to assess reliability in patients with arterial coronary disease. The order of performance of the tests was established by a draw.
Results
6MST test–retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.967; 95% CI: 0.766, 0.989; p < .05). There was an increase of 7.9 ± 8.2 steps from the first to the second 6MST, with a technical error of measurement = 8.0; p < .001. The correlations between distance walked in the 6MWT and number of steps in the 6MST in the first and second tests were 0.6 and 0.7 (p < .001), respectively.
Conclusion
The 6MST is a reliable test to measure functional capacity in individuals with CAD. The test is valid when using 6MWT as the gold standard. There is an 88% chance of a subject classified in a given tertile by the 6MWT being in the same tertile in the 6MST.