Reference values for the six-minute walk test in Nigerian adolescents aged 10 to 18 years
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Health Sciences, Osun State University
Abstract
Objective: To determine baseline six-minute walk distance in Nigerian adolescents and establish its
relationship with age, gender and anthropometric parameters.
Methods: One hundred and eighty healthy adolescents (10 – 18 years) were recruited from three schools.
Six-minute walk test was conducted as described by the American Thoracic Society. Demographic and
anthropometric characteristics were related to achieve six-minute walk distance. Amathematical formula
for predicting six-minute walk distance was generated.
Results: The mean ± SD six-minute walk distance was 590.1 ± 72.02 m and was significantly longer in
males (p= 0.001) among adolescents aged 10- 16 years. Age was the only characteristic significantly
associated with six-minute walk distance following multiple linear regression analyses. The formulae,
[six-minute walk distance = 317.3 + 21.5 x age (years) in males and 117 + 33.0 x age (years) in females]
closely approximated to measured six-minute walk distance.
Conclusion: This study has derived reference values for 6-minute walk test in adolescents; the use of
these reference values should consider age and gender variations.
Description
Keywords
Exercise test; Six-minute-walk; Adolescents; Nigeria
Citation
8. Abdulkadir, M.B., Ibraheem, R.M., Akintade, O.O., Suberu, H.D., Issa, A., & Alabi, K. (2019). Reference values for the six-minute walk test in Nigerian adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. Research Journal of Health Sciences, 7(4), 334-343