Objective: To investigate the correlation between Short Form-36 (SF-36) and exercise capacity including: 1) metabolic equivalents measured by an exercise stress test (METs of EST), 2) peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), and 3) walking distances measured by a six-minute walk test (6MWT).
Material and Method: SF-36, EST and 6MWT were estimated at the sixth week after coronary artery bypass graft (n = 17)
and percutaneous coronary intervention (n = 13) patients. Pearson’s product-moment correlation was used to evaluate the
relationship of parameters.
Results: Physical functioning scale of SF-36 showed moderate correlation with METs (r = 0.55, p<0.01), fair correlation with
VO2 peak of 6MWT (r = 0.46, p<0.05) and walking distance (r = 0.43, p<0.05). Bodily pain showed fair correlation with METs (r = 0.40, p<0.05) and walking distance (r = 0.45, p<0.05). Social functioning showed fair correlation with METs (r = 0.38, p<0.05). Report-health transition showed fair correlation with METs (r = 0.38, p<0.05) and walking distance (r = 0.41, p<0.05).
Conclusion: The physical domain of SF-36 that comprised physical function, role-physical, bodily pain and general health
correlated with physical capacity of these post-operation groups (r = 0.49, p<0.001). Therefore, clinicians can use the SF-36
and 6MWT to evaluate functional capacity in addition to EST and indirect calorimetry conveniently.

Keywords: SF-36, Metabolic equivalents, Peak oxygen consumption, Six-minute walk test, Post coronary artery bypass graft, Post percutaneous coronary intervention