Sanges S, et al. - This study was designed to shed light on the links between the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) and various disease parameters in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). An independent association of 6MWD, during SSc, with initial heart rate (HR) and HR variation; with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) but not interstitial lung disease (ILD) was evident in this work, indicating a possibly greater effect of pulmonary vasculopathy vs parenchymal involvement on functional limitation. Furthermore, independent association of 6MWD with global markers of disease activity and patient disability was also highlighted in findings.