AIMS: The 6-min walk test has been incorporated into studies on the efficacy of new therapies and into prognostic stratification for heart failure patients. Firm conclusions on the usefulness of the test in clinical practice are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate (1) the correlation between walk test performance and standard indices of cardiac function and (2) the prognostic value of the walk test with respect to NYHA class. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 175 patients (age: 69 짹 13 years, female 62.3%) newly admitted to Kangdong Sacred Heart hospital for congestive heart failure. They were followed-up for a minimum of 6 months (mean 389 짹 140 days). All-cause mortality was 19.4%. From multivariate analysis, concomitant myocardial infarction, history of cerebrovascular accident, and low body mass index were identified as independent predictors of mortality (odds ratio, OR 7.38, confidence interval, CI 2.38 to 22.8, P<0.001, OR 9.31, CI 2.19 to 39.39, P<0.001, and OR 0.83, CI 0.71 to 0.97, P=0.02, respectively). Of 70 patients underwent 6-min walk test before discharge after their clinical conditions were improved, 2 patients died from cardiovascular causes. Walked distances were not different between patients who survived and who did not (525.5 짹 211.1 vs. 454.1 짹 76.5 m, P=NS). There was no significant correlation between distances walked and left ventricular ejection fraction, BNP, and NYHA functional class. CONCLUSION: The usefulness of 6-min walk test has still controversy. Our study showed in patients who were newly admitted for congestive heart failure, the 6-min walk test undergone during hospitalization was not related to cardiac function, and walking performance does not provide prognostic information.