The effect of atrial-based pacing on exercise capacity as measured by the 6-minute walk test: A substudy of the Canadian Trial of Physiological Pacing (CTOPP)

The routine use of atrial-based pacemakers, instead of ventricular pacemakers, does not improve exercise capacity, as measured by the 6MWT. However, patients with an unpaced heart rate of ≤60 bpm may achieve a modest increase in their exercise capacity with atrial-based pacing.