Estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness from the Six-Minute Walk Test in schoolchildren

Cardiorespiratory fitness can be assessed by direct, indirect, maximal, and moderate effort, running, cycling, or walking methods. Objective: : To predict maximum oxygen consumption (VO(2)max) from the six-minute walk test in schoolchildren. Patients and Method: 459 students were included, 215 were male and 244 were female, aged 11.9 +/- 1.3 years. Basic anthropometry and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured using field tests. Multivariate equations were developed to predict the V O( 2 )max using the R (R) Commander v. 4.2.2 software (p < 0.05). Results: The best model predicting V O( 2 )max include distance walked in the six-minute walk test, heart rate recovery, age, height, body weight (VO(2)max [L<middle dot>min(-1)] =- 0.0902 + (- 0.0464 x age) + (0.0002 x distance) + (- 0.0019 x HR) + (0.5843 x height) + (0.0353 x weight), R-2 = 0.76; error = 0.25 L<middle dot>min(-1))), and also body mass index (VO(2)max [L<middle dot>min(-1)]=- 0.6152 + (0.0399 x age) + (0.0933 x BMI) + (0.0005 x distance) + (- 0.0022 x HR), R-2 = 0.57; error = 0.34 L<middle dot>min(-1))) both with p < 0.001. Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory fitness can be estimated based on basic anthropometry and performance on the six-minute walk test.