Reference values for six-minute walk distance and six-minute walk work in Caucasian adults

J M Delbressine; D Jensen; A W Vaes; P Z Li; J Bourbeau; W C Tan; B Hajian; A J van 't Hul; M A Spruit; CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group and the Canadian Respiratory Research Network

doi:10.1016/j.pulmoe.2023.02.014

Reference values for six-minute walk distance and six-minute walk work in Caucasian adults

Pulmonology. 2023 Sep-Oct;29(5):399-409. doi: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2023.02.014. Epub 2023 Apr 10.

Authors

J M Delbressine¹, D Jensen², A W Vaes³, P Z Li⁴, J Bourbeau⁴, W C Tan⁵, B Hajian⁶, A J van 't Hul⁷, M A Spruit⁸; CanCOLD Collaborative Research Group and the Canadian Respiratory Research Network

Affiliations

¹ Department of Research and Development, Ciro, 6085 NM Horn, the Netherlands; NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Faculty of Health, Medicine, Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: jeannetdelbressine@ciro-horn.nl.
² Clinical Exercise and Respiratory Physiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Faculty of Education, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program and Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
³ Department of Research and Development, Ciro, 6085 NM Horn, the Netherlands.
⁴ Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
⁵ The University of British Columbia, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁶ Department of Research and Development, Ciro, 6085 NM Horn, the Netherlands; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands.
⁷ Department of Pulmonary Disease, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
⁸ Department of Research and Development, Ciro, 6085 NM Horn, the Netherlands; NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Faculty of Health, Medicine, Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands.

PMID: 37045743
DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2023.02.014

Abstract

Rationale: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a practical and simple field-based test to assess physical capacity. Several reference equations for six-minute walking distance (6MWD, m) exist, but have a number of limitations that decrease their clinical utility. In addition, no reference equations exist for the 6MWT-derived outcome six-minute walk work (6MWORK, kg.m).

Objectives: To establish new reference equations for 6MWD and 6MWORK on a 20 m course using data from the population-based Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease study.

Methods and measurements: A total of 335 participants without obstructive or restrictive pulmonary function, with normal self-reported health status, normal exercise capacity, and <30 pack years cigarette smoking history were selected to create a representative sample of Canadian adults aged ≥40 years. All participants performed two 6MWTs. Reference equations were derived using multiple regression analyses.

Main results: On average, 6MWD and 6MWORK were 541±98 m and 41.3 ± 11.2 kg.m, respectively. All outcomes were significantly greater in males than females. Sex-specific reference equations were derived from the results of 6MWD and 6MWORK with an explained variance of 24 to 35%.

Conclusions: This study established reference equations for 6MWD and 6MWORK on a 20 m course in Caucasian males and females aged ≥40 years with normal pulmonary function, self-reported health status and exercise capacity. These newly derived reference equations add value to the assessment of functional capacity in clinical practice.

Keywords: 6MWD; 6MWORK; 6MWT; Exercise capacity; Functional capacity.

MeSH terms

Adult
Canada / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Lung*
Male
Reference Values
Walk Test
Walking*