Predictive validity analysis of six reference equations for the 6-minute walk test in healthy Brazilian men: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (São Carlos (São Paulo, Brazil)) Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 350 - 356
• Main Authors: Negreiros, Alexandher, Padula, Rosimeire Simprini, Andrea Bretas Bernardes, Rosane, Moraes, Mônica Vasconcelos de, Pires, Raquel Simoni, Chiavegato, Luciana Dias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier Editora Ltda 01.09.2017; Departamento de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos
• Subjects: Brazil; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Exercise Tolerance - physiology; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Male; Men; Original Research; Physiotherapy; Predictive value of tests; Walk Test - methods; Brazil; Exercise; Predictive value of tests; Men; Physiotherapy
• ISSN: 1413-3555; 1809-9246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.06.003

•The Brazilian reference equations use different variables in their composition.•The predictive validity of equations presented great variability in limits of agreement.•The Brazilian reference equation proposed by Britto et al. (BMI) came closest to the walked distance for these individuals. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is an important tool for evaluating functional capacity and exercise tolerance. The reference equations for the 6MWT in healthy subjects were established on the basis of American and European populations, but reference equations have been proposed with different variables for the Brazilian population. To analyze the predictive validity of six reference equations for the six-minute walking distance (6MWD) in healthy adult men. We evaluated 103 individuals in relation to level of physical activity (IPAQ), respiratory symptoms (MRC), handgrip strength, and 6MWD test. The data were submitted to a normality test, then the Bland–Altman agreement test was used to compare individual 6MWD values with that expected for each equation. The subjects were active, with a mean age of 34.12 (SD=8.88) years and no respiratory symptoms. The mean of the 6MWD was 663.43 (SD=93.01)m. The 6MWD's predicted values came closest to the walked distance covered by Britto et al.’s equation (using BMI) of 647.62 (SD=38.62)m. The equation proposed by Britto et al. using body mass index (BMI) was the closest to the 6MWD for the individuals studied and could be widely used as a reference tool during the 6MWT in healthy Brazilian men.