Validity And Reliability Of Walk Tests For Cardiopulmonary Fitness In The Elderly According To Distances And Time To Walk

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cardiopulmonary Fitness is one of health fitness factors, and it correlates chronic disease incidence and mortality in terms of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes. Walk test is commonly used to maintain physical function for CF of the elderly in their daily lives.·The most commonly used walk tests are 6MWT(6 minute walk test) at a 30m straight line suggested by ATS(America Thoracic Society) and 20m walk test suggested by the SFT(Senior Fitness Test). However, both tests need long hallway and big space. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of walk tests to estimate CF for elderly according to distances and time to walk. METHODS: 57 subjects without any disease were recruited from community site. Over 2 or 3days, 57 subjects performed three CF tests. First test was sub-maximal exercise test on treadmill using modified Bruce protocol. Second test was 10min walk test at 20m straight line. Third test was 10min walk test at 30m straight line. In walk tests, distance was measured for 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10min. Mean and SD were calculated to describe the data. For validity of the test, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to compare VO2max (kg/min/kcal) to distances. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to develop several Equations for predicting VO2max were developed by multiple regression analysis through gender, age, BMI and distance to walk. Win SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis and significance level was p<0.05. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results of walk tests were moderately correlated with VO2max (0.64<r<0.66, p<0.05). The model from 20m course at 6mins explained 48% of VO2max. In addition, the model from 30m course at 2mins explained 47% of VO2max According to these results, both walk tests were moderately correlated with VO2max CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of walk test for estimating CF of the elderly was confirmed to be highly positive correlated with VO2max. In the 20 meter, straight distance model explained 47% of the variability in VO2max. And in the 30 meter, straight distance model explained 48% of the variability in VO2max. As the result, CF of the elderly can be estimated by walk test regardless of its distance and time. Keywords: Walk Test, Cardiopulmonary Fitness Test, Validity, Reliability