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

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.