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Standard reference for the six-minute-walk test in healthy children aged 7 to 16 years
Albert M Li1, Jane Yin, Jun T Au
1Department of Pediatrics, and Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 6th Floor, Clinical Sciences Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. albertmli@cuhk.edu.hk
Insights
New height-specific standards for the six-minute-walk test (6MWT) were developed for children aged 7-16. These pediatric reference values aid in assessing exercise tolerance and endurance in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric exercise physiology
- Clinical assessment tools
- Reference value construction
Background:
- The six-minute-walk test (6MWT) is a validated measure of exercise tolerance.
- A lack of pediatric-specific reference data for the 6MWT exists.
- Standardized 6MWT data is crucial for accurate pediatric patient assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish height-specific reference standards for the 6MWT in children aged 7 to 16 years.
- To provide a normative dataset for pediatric exercise capacity evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Prospective measurement of anthropometric data, spirometry, and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in 1,445 Chinese children (ages 7-16).
- Utilized the least mean square (LMS) method for constructing height-specific 6MWT standards.
- Employed forward stepwise multiple regression to identify factors associated with 6MWD.
Main Results:
- Successfully constructed height-specific 6MWT reference standards for both male and female children.
- Height and heart rate change post-walk were identified as significant clinical variables related to 6MWD.
- Study data exhibited normal distribution, supporting the reliability of the constructed standards.
Conclusions:
- The developed 6MWD standards offer valuable reference data for pediatric healthcare.
- These standards will enhance the clinical utility of the 6MWT in evaluating pediatric exercise tolerance.
- Facilitates more accurate interpretation of 6MWT results in children.
Rationale:
We have previously reported that the six-minute-walk test (6MWT) is a reliable and valid functional test for assessing exercise tolerance and endurance. There is a lack of pediatric standard reference for the 6MWT.
Objectives:
To construct height-specific standards for the 6MWT for children aged 7 to 16 years.
Methods:
The anthropometric data, spirometric lung function, and six-minute-walk distance (6MWD) of Chinese children aged 7 to 16 years were prospectively measured using standardized protocols. The findings were used to construct height-specific standards for the 6MWT. The least mean square (LMS) method using maximum penalized likelihood was used to facilitate model fitting. Factors significantly associated with 6MWD were also determined.
Measurements And Main Results:
From January 2005 to April 2006, a total of 1,445 subjects were studied. The measured variables showed a normal distribution. Height-specific reference standards for 6MWT were constructed for both male and female children. Forward stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed height and difference in heart rate before and after the walk test to be important clinical variables associated with 6MWD.
Conclusions:
These 6MWD standards will provide useful references for the care of pediatric patients.
