The six-minute walk test distance demonstrated a significant positive correlation with peak oxygen uptake (r = 0.51) up to approximately 600 meters in children with congenital heart disease.
Cross-Sectional (n=459)
No
Does the six-minute walk test distance correlate with cardiopulmonary exercise test variables in children with congenital heart disease?
The six-minute walk test distance correlates with cardiopulmonary exercise test variables in children with congenital heart disease, allowing for the establishment of cutoff values to stratify physical fitness.
Effect estimate: r = 0.51
p-value: p=<0.001
Objectives We aimed to assess the validity of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) to reflect the functional capacity of children with congenital heart disease (CHD), evaluate a possible correlation between the 6MWT distance with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) variables, as well as to find a cutoff value to stratification the physical fitness in this population. Methods We enrolled 459 children with CHD, 6–18 years old, who performed a complete CPET and 6MWT on the same day in a cross-sectional observational study. Correlations between variables of CPET and six-minute walking distance (6MWD) were analyzed and cutoff values of 6MWD were identified for the classification of the physical fitness in the population. Results The mean distance ambulated during the 6MWT was 578 ± 65 m, 590 ± 65 m for boys, and 562 ± 62 m for girls ( p 0.001). Both VO 2max and %predicted VO 2max showed a correlation with the 6MWT distance ( r = 0.35, p 0.001 and r = 0.51, p 0.001, respectively), and an inverse correlation was found between VE/VCO2 slope and the 6MWT distance ( r = −0.31; p 0.001). There appeared to be a linear association between 6MWD and VO 2max up to a 6MWD of approximately 600 m. We divided the population into 4 subgroups (boys 130 cm; boys ≥130 cm; girls 130 cm; girls ≥130 cm), and get the cutoff values (554 m, 617 m, 549 m, 587 m) respectively equivalent to 80% of predicted VO 2max . The 6MWT distances of another 102 patients were applied for external verification of the cutoff values. Conclusions Our study provided evidence on when a 6MWT should be considered as a convincing complementary test in the pediatric population with CHD and explored the classification of exercise tolerance using a 6MWD value. The cut-off values for 6MWD may be qualified as an intervention target for exercise rehabilitation.
Qu et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Congenital heart disease (n=459). Six-minute walk test (6MWT) vs. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was evaluated on Correlation between 6MWT distance and VO2max (ml/min/kg) (r = 0.51, p=<0.001). The six-minute walk test distance demonstrated a significant positive correlation with peak oxygen uptake (r = 0.51) up to approximately 600 meters in children with congenital heart disease.