Six-minute walk test performance in healthy adult Pakistani volunteers

ABSTRACT

To determine the six-minute walking distance [6MWD] for healthy Pakistanis, identify factors affecting 6MWD, compare published equations with the local data and derive an equation. Cross-sectional study. Two medical institutes of Karachi, from January to May 2011. Subjects between 15 and 65 years were prospectively enrolled after screening. A standardized 6MWT was administered. SpO[2], HR, BP and dyspnoea scores were determined pre- and post-test. Two hundred and eleven [71%] men and 85 [29%] women participated. Mean 6MWD was 469.88 +/- 101.24 m men walked 502.35 +/- 92.21 m and women walked 389.28 +/- 74.29 m. On univariate analysis, gender, height, weight and age showed a significant relationship with the 6MWD. Gender and age were identified as independent factors in multiple regression analysis, and together explained 33% of the variance. The gender-specific prediction equations were 6MWD [m] for men = 164.08 + [78.06 [asterisk] 1] - [1.90 [asterisk] age in years] + [1.95 [asterisk] height in cms] 6MWD [m] for women = 164.08 - [1.90 [asterisk] age in years] + [1.95 [asterisk] height in cms]. 6MWDs among the volunteer subjects were shorter than predicted by reference equations in literature. Height, gender and weight combined explained 33% of the variance. The moderate over-estimation of the 6MWD in Pakistani subject. The proposed equation gives predicted [mean] 6MWDs for adult Pakistani naive to the test when employing standardized protocol