Habitual physical activity score as a predictor of the 6-min walk test distance in healthy adults

Abstract Background The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a simple, inexpensive test of functional exercise capacity. The 6MWT distance (6MWD) in healthy adults varies geographically, emphasizing the need for population-specific reference equations. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influences of the habitual physical activity (HPA) score and other anthropometric and demographic parameters on the variability of the 6MWD among healthy adults and to propose a reference equation. Methods This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. The 6MWT was conducted in a 30-m hospital corridor on 201 healthy volunteers, 125 men and 76 women, aged 20–60 years. The HPA in the previous 6 months was assessed using Baecke's questionnaire. Univariate analysis followed by multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the significance levels of different probable predictors. Results The 6MWD was significantly greater in more active than in less active subjects (663.8±55.4m vs. 599.9±67.8m, p p =0.017), gender ( p =0.006), height in cm ( p =0.004), weight in kg ( p p p Conclusions The HPA score is probably the most appropriate variable to include in the reference equation predicting the 6MWD in healthy adults from the Indian subcontinent.