Estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness from the Six-Minute Walk Test in schoolchildren

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness can be assessed by direct, indirect, maximal, and moderate effort, running, cycling, or walking methods.

Objective: To predict maximum oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) from the six-minute walk test in schoolchildren.

Patients and Method: 459 students were included, 215 were male and 244 were female, aged 11.9 ± 1.3 years. Basic anthropometry and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured using field tests. Multivariate equations were developed to predict the V̇O2max using the R® Commander v. 4.2.2 software (p < 0.05).

Results: The best model predicting V̇O2max include distance walked in the six-minute walk test, heart rate recovery, age, height, body weight (V̇O2max [L·min-1] = - 0.0902 + (- 0.0464 × age) + (0.0002 × distance) + (- 0.0019 × HR) + (0.5843 × height) + (0.0353 × weight), R2 = 0.76; error = 0.25 L·min-1)), and also body mass index (V̇O2max [L·min-1] = - 0.6152 + (0.0399 × age) + (0.0933 × BMI) + (0.0005 × distance) + (- 0.0022 × HR), R2 = 0.57; error = 0.34 L·min-1)), both with p < 0.001.

Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory fitness can be estimated based on basic anthropometry and performance on the six-minute walk test.