REFERENCE EQUATIONS FOR THE SIX-MINUTE WALK TEST IN HEALTHY ADULTS FROM SOUTHWESTERN COLOMBIA

E.C. Wilches Luna^1,2, J. Betancourt Peña^1,2, A. Arias^3,2, H. Rosero Carvajal^3,2, D. Quintero^2,1, M. Hernández¹

Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a submaximal test to assess functional exercise capacity. The results of the 6MWT are compared with the predictions established with reference equations of other populations and the steps carried out are not used as an additional variable. The objective was to develop reference equations for the 6MWT of a healthy population (20 to 69 years old) from Cali-Colombia.

Purpose: The objective was to develop reference equations for the 6MWT of a healthy population (20 to 69 years old) from Cali-Colombia.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. 322 volunteers, 225 men, with no history of respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, or comorbidities that limit the ability to walk were included. The subjects performed the 6MWT twice on the same day in the morning, with an interval of 30 minutes. Before and after each test, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial oxygen saturation, as well as the Borg scale for dyspnea and fatigue were measured. The pedometer was placed on the patient at the starting point, and the meters and the number of steps in each test were recorded, selecting the one with the best distance. Linear regression was performed to obtain the reference equations by gender according to age, weight, height and number of steps. R2 was used as an adjustment measure.

Results: The distance traveled was greater in men compared to women (616.7 [p25-75: 566.1-657.0] vs 588.0m [p25-75: 544.5-640.0]; p = 0.008).  
Two equations were obtained, one for women, 6MWTWoman= 3,84 (Sizecm +0,35 (StepsNum)-0,88 (Ageyears)-2,94 (WeightKg)-48,61 (R2=0.54) and for men, 6MWTMan= 3,98(Sizecm)+0,65(StepsNum)-0,05 (Ageyears)-0,75 (WeightKg)-493.5 (R2= 0.42).
When comparing men and women together, R2 was 0.42.

Conclusion(s): This study describes the distance traveled in the 6MWT in Colombian subjects, with age, weight, height and number of steps as predictive variables and two equations were obtained for each gender, with R2 of 0.54 and 0.42 respectively.

Implications: This study is part of an initiative to establish the reference values in the distance traveled in the 6-minute test in the Colombian population and the results of this study can be used in clinical practice to perform differential evaluations and establish interventions tailored to the needs of patients.

Funding, acknowledgements: None

Keywords: Exercise test, Exercise tolerance, Healthy subjects

Topic: Cardiorespiratory

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Universidad del Valle

Committee: Comité ética Universidad del Valle

Ethics number: 6014