Correlation between 6-min walk test and exercise stress test in healthy children

Aim: To investigate the correlation between 6-min walk test (SMWT) and incremental treadmill exercise stress test (EST) as indicators for the functional capacity in children. Methods: Healthy children aged 9-12 years were included. The anthropometric data, SMWT and EST were prospectively measured using the standard protocols. Various parameters were analysed to define the correlation between SMWT and EST. Results: A total of 100 subjects (53 boys) aged 10.3 +/- 1.0 years participated in the study. The SMWT distance was 586.1 +/- 44.0 m. Height (r = 0.59, R(2) = 35%), length of the leg (r = 0.64, R(2) = 41%), heart rate at the end of SMWT (r = 0.59, R(2) = 35%) and heart rate difference at the end of SMWT (r = 0.71, R(2) = 50%) were found to have significant correlation with SMWT distance. The estimated maximal oxygen consumption (eVO2) obtained during the EST tended to be greater in boys than in girls. Among the parameters obtained during EST, maximal heart rate (r = 0.33, R(2) = 11%) and the eVO2 (r = 0.54, R(2) = 53%) were found to have significant correlation with SMWT. Conclusions: SMWT distance is significantly correlated with the eVO2 obtained during the EST. This indicates that SMWT is also one of the predictive markers for EST performance.