Reference equation for the 2-minute walk test in adults and the elderly

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology
• Clinical Biomechanics

Background:

• The 2-minute walk test (2MWT) is widely used but lacks established reference values for interpreting distance walked (DW).
• Limited normative data hinders the clinical application of the 2MWT across diverse populations and health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a predictive reference equation for the 2MWT distance walked (DW) in healthy adults and the elderly.
• To assess the reproducibility and reliability of the developed prediction equation for 2MWT performance.

Main Methods:

• 390 healthy adults (18-89 years) with normal spirometry performed two 2MWTs.
• Regression analysis was used to develop a prediction equation based on age, gender, weight, and height.
• Prospective validation involved 70 subjects to test the equation's reliability.

Main Results:

• Men walked significantly farther than women (P < .0001).
• Distance walked (DW) showed significant correlations with age (r=-0.50), weight (r=0.23), height (r=0.40), and gender (r=0.35).
• The final prediction model, including age and gender, explained 51% of the variance in DW (R²=0.51).

Conclusions:

• A validated prediction equation was established to estimate 2MWT distance walked (DW) in healthy adults and the elderly.
• This reference equation can aid in interpreting 2MWT performance across various clinical settings and health conditions.