Reference equations for the six-minute walk distance in Thai older people

Abstract

     The six minute walking distance (6 MWD) is a commonly used test to estimate a functional exercise capacity in patients with chronic diseases and healthy adults. Many studies reported reference equations for prediction of the total distance walked during six minutes (6 MWD) for healthy elderly. In Thailand, no study to establish normal values for the healthy elderly has been reported. The aim of this study, therefore, was to establish a reference equation for prediction of the total distance walked during 6 MWD for the healthy elderly in Bangkok and to evaluate the correlation between total distance walk during 6 MWD in other reference equations.

     The study administered the standardized 6 minute walk test. This subjects were perform healthy elderly 60-80 years at aging club in Bangkok.

     The healthy eldery included 36 males and 123 females. The averaged walking distance were 559.63 + 83.89 m. for men and 484.00 + 76.19 m. for women. The reference equations in distance walked for the healthy aging in 60-80 years is 431.47 + (4.33 × height_cm.) - (6.02 × age) - (2.44 × weight_kg.) - (58.99 × sex _{(male = 0, female = 1)}). This study was significant correlation between 6 MWD and predicted value from Enrights, Troosters and Gibbon (r = 0.550, r = 0.603, r = 0.510) p value = 0.000

      This study concluded that we applied the reference equations for prediction of the total distance in healthy elderly 60-80 years and found that correlated between the other reference equations.

Key words : 6 Minute Walk Distance, Reference equation, elderly