Six-Minute Walk Test: Reference Values For Healthy Young Adults In Malaysia

Authors

  • Padmavathy K M Professor , School Of Medicine, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia
  • Rohith Sharan Sankaran MD General Medicine Vth Course, Yerevan State Medical University, Armenia
  • Tujuba Jergefa Oncho Assistant Professor, School Of Veterinary Medicine, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia
  • Gurmessa Enkossa Ayana Dean, School Of Medicine, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia
  • Varun Roshan Sankaran MD General Medicine IIird Course, Yerevan State Medical University, Armenia

Keywords:

Exercise test, Reference values, Six minute walk distance, Anthropometry, Regression analysis.

Abstract

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a submaximal exercise test used to assess functional capacity of cardiorespiratory status in clinical practice and research. Objectives: The six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and six-minute walk work (6MWw) were compared among both genders of second year medical students and derived regression equation separately. Methods: The 6MWT was administered to 164 healthy subjects (83 male) aged between 19-21 years. Their anthropometric measurements and BMI were compared between genders. Predicted equation for 6MWD was derived using independent predictors by multiple linear regressions. Results: Among the genders the height, weight, chest expansion and 6MWw were significantly (p<0.0001) different but 6MWD was not significantly different (p>0.05). The 6 MWD and 6MWw were greater in males than in females (605.5 ±119.8m, 39845.3±1315.0kg.m vs 574.2±117.4m, 32868.2±8923.4kg.m). The 6MWD was significantly correlated with height (r2=7.65%; p=0.01), weight (r2 =5.66%; p<0.05) and chest expansion (r2 =5.9%, p<0.05) in males. The reference equation for 6 MWD in healthy young adults of Malaysian population is 441.08+0.529xheight(cm)+0.646xweight(kg)+2.601xchest expansion(cm) for females and 60.058+2.367xheight(cm)+0.780xweight(kg)+18.035xchest expansion(cm) for males.  Interpretation & Conclusion: The significant correlation of height, weight and chest expansion explains the increase in 6MWD in males. Reference values explaining a high proportion of the variance were derived by multiple regressions among healthy young adults in Malaysia. [Padmavathy M, Natl J Integr Res Med, 2018; 9(3):66-70]

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Published

2018-07-24

How to Cite

M, P. K., Sankaran, R. S., Oncho, T. J., Ayana, G. E., & Sankaran, V. R. (2018). Six-Minute Walk Test: Reference Values For Healthy Young Adults In Malaysia. National Journal of Integrated Research in Medicine, 9(3), 66–70. Retrieved from http://nicpd.ac.in/ojs-/index.php/njirm/article/view/2356

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