Normal values of 6-minute walk test in healthy children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: The 6-minute walk test (SMWT) is a submaximal exercise test widely used in the clinical setting, which allows the assessment of physical capacity in healthy and chronic children. For a proper interpretation of SMWT it is necessary to compare the value obtained by the patient with a normal value appropriate for the studied population. The aim of this study was to analyze the normal values of SMWT, in order to establish grouped normal values and to evaluate their association with anthropometric and racial variables in healthy children and adolescents. Methods: Systematic review performed in 6 electronic databases. We included studies aimed at determining normal values of SMWT in healthy children and adolescents. Normal values of the SMWT were weighted according to the sample size and their association with the gender, age and continent of origin of the study was evaluated. Additionally, the correlation coefficients between the distance during SMWT and the predictor variables were meta-analyzed using the random effects model. Results: The review included 10 articles that included 5352 individuals (51.9% men). The weighted average of the distance during SMWT was 619.8 m, there being a difference between the age, gender and continent of origin groups. The meta-analysis of random effects revealed a moderate association between the distance and height, weight and age variables. Conclusion: SMWT is associated with gender, continent and anthropometric variables. However, the predictive variables determine a low percentage of normal walked distance in children and adolescents.