Goldman et al defined a Specific Activity Scale for the functional classification of patients with cardiovascular disease.
Patient Can Perform to Completion |
Patient Cannot Perform to Completion or Does Not Perform |
Specific Activity Scale Functional Class |
any activity requiring >= 7 metabolic equivalents. |
NA |
I |
any activity requiring >= 5 metabolic equivalents |
activities requiring >= 7 metabolic equivalents |
II |
any activity requiring >= 2 metabolic equivalents |
activities requiring >= 5 metabolic equivalents |
III |
NA |
any activity requiring >= 2 metabolic equivalents |
IV |
where:
• metabolic equivalent of activity = 1 met
Class I activities:
(1) carry at least 24 pounds up 8 steps: 10 mets
(2) carry objects that are at least 80 pounds: 8 mets
(3) do outdoor work (shovel snow, spade soil): 7 mets
(4) do recreational activities like skiing, basketball, touch football, squash, handball: 7 – 10 mets
(5) jog or walk 5 miles an hour: 9 mets
Class II activities:
(1) carry anything up a flight of 8 steps without stopping: 5.0 – 5.5 mets
(2) have sexual intercourse without stopping: 5.0 – 5.5 mets
(3) garden, rake, weed: 5.6 mets
(4) roller skate, dance, foxtrot: 5 – 6 mets
(5) walk at a 4 mile per hour rate on level ground: 5 - 6 mets
Class III activities:
(1) walk down a flight of steps without stopping: 4.5 – 5.2 mets (overlaps with Class II)
(2) shower without stopping: 3.6 – 4.2 mets
(3) strip and make a bed: 3.9 – 5.0 mets
(4) mop floors: 4.2 mets
(5) hang washed clothes: 4.4 mets
(6) clean windows: 3.7 mets
(7) walk 2.5 miles per hour: 3.0 – 3.5 mets
(8) bowl: 3.0 – 4.4 mets
(9) play golf, with walking and carrying clubs: 4.5 mets
(10) push power lawn mower: 4 mets
(11) dress without stopping because of symptoms: 2.0 – 2.3 mets
Clinical Questionnaire (modified Table 3, page 1228):
(1 walk down a flight of steps without stopping
(1a) If Yes: go to (2).
(1b) If No: go to (4)
(2) carry anything up a flight of 8 steps without stopping or do any Class II items
(2a) If Yes: go to (3).
(2b) If No: Class III
(3) carry at least 24 pounds up 8 steps or do any Class I items
(3a) If Yes: Class I.
(3b) If No: Class II
(4) shower without stopping, or do any Class III items
(4a) If Yes: Class III.
(4b) If No: go to (5)
(5) dress without stopping because of symptoms
(5a) If Yes: Class III.
(5b) If No: Class IV.
NOTE: An equation to predict maximum oxygen uptake based on the Specific Activity Class is reported in 36.03.12.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Cardiology, Emergency Medicine