An equation to predict maximum oxygen consumption from the six-minute walk test in healthy young adults

Jaime Vásquez-Gómez,Rodrigo Ramírez-Campillo,Ricardo Souza De Carvalho,Marcelo Castillo-Retamal,Cesar Faundez-Casanova,Pablo Valdés-Badilla

doi:10.4067/s0034-98872018000700830

Abstract

The six-minute walk test (SMWT) is an easy-to-use test that measures walking distance. To elaborate an equation to estimate the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) using the results of the SMWT. Forty men and 40 women aged 22.5 ± 2 years, underwent a SMWT to measure the total walked distance and the recovery heart rate (RhR) Also, VO2 max was estimated from the maximal workload achieved in a cyclo-ergometer using the Storer test. A multivariate regression analysis resulted in a prediction equation that was validated with distributional assumptions of normality, independence and homoscedasticity. The limits of concordance of the predictive model were checked with the Bland-Altman diagram. Body mass index (BMI), sex, RhR and total walked distance explained VO2 max variance by 3.4, 73.1, 17.9 and 32.8%, respectively. The prediction equation achieved was VO2 max (ml.min-1) = -3672.585 + (966.472 × Sex [1: female, 2: male]) + (-18.492 X RhR [beats.minute-1]) + (9.191 X Distance [m]) + (87.707 × BMI). The R2 of the equation was 0.91 (p < 0.01). This equation predicts VO2 max in Chilean university students according to sex, BMI, cardiovascular response and performance in the SMWT.

Highlights

The six-minute walk test (SMWT) is an easy-to-use test that measures walking distance
Material and Methods: Forty men and 40 women aged 22.5 ± 2 years, underwent a SMWT to measure the total walked distance and the recovery heart rate (RhR) VO2 max was estimated from the maximal workload achieved in a cyclo-ergometer using the Storer test
A multivariate regression analysis resulted in a prediction equation that was validated with distributional assumptions of normality, independence and homoscedasticity

Summary

Background

The six-minute walk test (SMWT) is an easy-to-use test that measures walking distance. The prediction equation achieved was VO2 max (ml.min-1) = -3672.585 + (966.472 × Sex [1: female, 2: male]) + (-18.492 × RhR [beats.minute-1]) + (9.191 × Distance [m]) + (87.707 × BMI). Si bien existen modelos predictivos para diferentes muestras de la población, es difícil encontrar para universitarios, sobre todo en Chile a excepción de la ecuación para estudiantes de educación física[12], por lo que es pertinente cubrir esta necesidad y aportar una fórmula para la predicción de la capacidad cardiopulmonar, ya que las elaboradas en otros contextos responden a características corporales y funcionales distintas de las personas, propias de las diferencias genéticas y ambientales entre países. El objetivo fue elaborar una ecuación para estimar el VO2 máx. a partir de la PC6M para estudiantes universitarios chilenos de ambos sexos

Materiales y Métodos

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