ObjectivesTo analyze the application value of 6-minute walking test (6MWT) in the clinical evaluation of chronic heart failure (CHF).MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, VIP, WanFang Data and CNKI databases were searched online to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) as the CHF evaluation index. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and then analyzed data by using SPSS 17.0 statistical software. The 6MWD with symptom, quality of life, exercise tolerance (ETT), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) were analyzed by Kappa consistency test, and the possible influencing factors of 6MWD were analyzed by logistic regression.ResultsA total of 158 RCTs involving 17 853 patients were included. The results of statistical analysis showed that: 6MWD was consistent with the improvement of symptoms, quality of life, ETT, LVEF and pVO2 (Kappa>0.4). Baseline 6MWD (OR=2.91, 95%CI 1.278 to 6.634,P=0.011) and NYHA Ⅲ-Ⅳ ratio (OR=2.59, 95%CI 1.091 to 6.138, P=0.031) were the independent influencing factors for 6MWD improvement separately.ConclusionsThe 6MWT is an objective and reliable indicator of CHF evaluation.