The difference in determinant factor of six-minute walking distance between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic elderly patients with heart failure

•We assessed the factors determining exercise capacity in elderly heart failure.•Walking speed was an independent factor determining the 6-min walking distance (6MWD).•Muscle strength was a determining factor of the 6MWD in the sarcopenia group. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors determining exercise capacity in elderly patients with heart failure (HF) with and without sarcopenia. We studied 186 consecutive patients with HF who met the criteria of being >60 years, with no physical disability. During hospitalization, we measured the 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and other physical functional parameters and evaluated echocardiographic and laboratory measurements indicating the severity of HF. First, we divided patients into two groups (the sarcopenia group and the nonsarcopenia group) according to the presence of sarcopenia defined as fulfilling more than or equal to two criteria—body mass index