Functional Capacity Assessment

Metabolic Equivalents of Tasks

The patient reports that he/she is able to...

climb 2 flights of stairs?

Duke Activity Status Index (DASI)

The patient reports that he/she is able to...

take care of yourself (eg, eating, dressing, bathing, or using the toilet) (+2.75)

walk indoors, such as around your house? (+1.75)

walk a block or 2 on level ground? (+2.75)

climb a flight of stairs or walk a hill? (+5.5)

run a short distance? (+8)

do light work around the house (eg, dusting, washing dishes)? (+2.7)

do moderate work around the house (eg, vacuuming, sweeping floors, carrying in groceries)? (+3.5)

do heavy work around the house (eg, scrubbing floors, lifting or moving heavy furniture)? (+8)

do yardwork (eg, raking leaves, weeding, pushing a power mower)? (+4.5)

have sexual relations? (+5.25)

participate in moderate recreational activities (eg, golf, bowling, dancing, doubles tennis, throwing a baseball or football)? (+6)

participate in strenuous sports (eg, swimming, singles tennis, basketball, skiing)? (+7.5)

METs ≥ 4

In most cases, functional, asymptomatic patients may proceed with planned noncardiac without further cardiovascular testing.

METs < 4

Patients with poor functional capacity are at increased risk of cardiac events post surgery.

References

Thompson A, Fleischmann KE, Smilowitz NR, Aggarwal NR, Ahmad FS, Allen RB, Altin SE, Auerbach A, Berger JS, Chow B, Dakik HA, de las Fuentes L, Eisenstein EL, Gerhard-Herman M, Ghadimi K, Kachulis B, Leclerc J, Lee CS, Macaulay TE, Mates G, Merli GJ, Mukherjee D; Parwani P, Poole JE, Rich MW, Ruetzler K, Stain SC, Sweitzer B, Talbot AW, Vallabhajosyula S, Whittle J, Williams KA Sr. 2024 AHA/ACC/ACS/ASNC/HRS/SCA/SCCT/SCMR/SVM guideline for perioperative cardiovascular management for noncardiac surgery: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2024;150:e351–e442. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001285

Hlatky MA, Boineau RE, Higginbotham MB, Lee KL, Mark DB, Califf RM, Cobb FR, Pryor DB. A brief self-administered questionnaire to determine functional capacity (the Duke Activity Status Index). Am J Cardiol. 1989 Sep 15;64(10):651-4.