Key result
African American race was associated with a 13-meter shorter 6-minute walk distance compared with White participants after adjustment for covariates (95% CI -22 to -3).
Why the study?
Limited data on functional capacity among older Americans suggest lower 6-min walk distance (6MWD) among African American than White persons, prompting investigation of race and ethnicity associations with 6MWD accounting for multiple confounders.
Is race and ethnicity associated with 6-minute walk distance in older adults free of baseline cardiovascular disease?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,829)
Yes
Is race and ethnicity associated with 6-minute walk distance in older adults free of baseline cardiovascular disease?
Mean Difference: -13 (95% CI -22–-3)
Differences in 6-minute walk distance among older adults of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are largely explained by socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and comorbid conditions.
BACKGROUND: The limited data on functional capacity among older Americans suggest lower 6-min walk distance (6MWD) among African American than among White persons. We aimed to investigate the association of race and ethnicity with 6MWD while accounting for sociodemographic, behavioral, health care, and comorbid conditions. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort, composed of men and women ages 45-84 y who self-reported being African American, Chinese, Hispanic, or White, were free of clinically evident cardiovascular disease (CVD) between 2000 and 2002, and attended the sixth exam (2016-2018). 6MWD was obtained by participants walking at their own pace along a flat 20-m course under staff supervision. Linear regression models were utilized to adjust for age, sex, height, body mass index, site, education, income, private health insurance, health behaviors, health status, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score, CVD risk factors, and heart and lung function parameters. RESULTS: Among 1829 participants (mean age, 73 y; age range, 59-96 y; 53% female; 24% African American; 14% Chinese; 21% Hispanic; 41% White), mean 6MWD was 33 to 56 m lower for non-White than for White participants. Differences in 6MWD narrowed after adjustment for covariates but remained significant for African American (−13 m; 95% confidence interval: −22, −3) compared with White participants. CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults who identified as White, Chinese, African American, or Hispanic, differences in 6MWD were smaller than what is considered clinically meaningful or not significantly different after consideration of socioeconomic status, health behaviors, comorbid conditions, cardiovascular parameters, and pulmonary function.
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Bertoni et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Free of clinically evident cardiovascular disease (n=1,829). Non-White race and ethnicity (African American, Chinese, Hispanic) vs. White race and ethnicity was evaluated on 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) (MD -13 m, 95% CI -22, -3). African American race was associated with a 13-meter shorter 6-minute walk distance compared with White participants after adjustment for covariates (95% CI -22 to -3).
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