Accuracy of the Defining Characteristics of Fatigue in Patients with Heart Failure as Identified by the 6-Minute Walking Test

Abstract

Purpose: Identify the prevalence of the nursing diagnosis (ND) Fatigue in patients with heart failure (HF) and to analyze the accuracy of its defining characteristics (DCs).

Methods: 50 patients were assessed for Fatigue through a distance ambulated <300m during the Six-Minute Walking Test (6MWT) and the report of insufficient energy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated for the DCs associated with Fatigue.

Findings: The prevalence of Fatigue was 48%. No DCs were sensitive and specific for determining Fatigue.

Conclusions: There were no DCs accurate enough to infer Fatigue.

Implications for practice: A distance ambulated <300m during the 6MWT should be included as a DC of Fatigue.

Keywords: Fatigue; Six-minute walk test; heart failure; nursing diagnosis.