Introduction: Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) have a decreased functional capacity and poor quality of life (QoL). The one-minute sit-to-stand test (1-min STST) can be potentially used for functional capacity assessment, but there is no data to date on its relationship to QoL in PH patients.

Aim: Our aim was to find out if 1-min STST performance correlates to patient-reported QoL.

Methods: 106 PH patients (mean age 66 ± 15 years, 57% female) were prospectively assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness using the 1-min STST. The patients had to stand-up and sit-down from a chair as many times as possible within one minute. Patients QoL was evaluated with the Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR) questionnaire.

Results: Mean number of 1-min STST repetitions was 16 ± 6.5 and mean CAMPHOR score was 26 ± 19. Patients with worse 1-min STST performance reported significantly worse QoL by using the total score and all the sub-scores of the CAMPHOR questionnaire: They had a higher total score (r = -0.533, p < 0.001) and regarding sub-scores more symptoms: (r = -0.457, p < 0.001), worse functioning: (r = -0.524, p < 0.001) and decreased QoL (r = -0.505, p < 0.001). Also, in multivariate linear regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex and BMI, lower 1-min STST performance was an independent predictor for worse QoL (?? = -1.5, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that regardless of age, sex and BMI the 1-min STST performance is suggestive of QoL in patients with PH.