Estudio "SEMIMAP"estudio metodológico del test de la marcha de seis minutos en población infantil

Resumen

The stress tests allow for the integral analysis of the response to exercise. The six-minute walking test (6MWT) is the most diffused field test since its standardisation by the ATS in 2002. It is important to establish valid and reliable predictive values in our child population that will avoid an erroneous interpretation of the results. Aims: Determine reference values for the 6MWD (distance walked in metres during the 6MWT) in healthy children from ages 6 to 14 years old from the general public and also the reliability and validity of the 6MWT in both healthy children and those with chronic respiratory diseases. Method: It is a prospective transversal study, in which in order to reach the first objective, a total of 432 healthy children (249 males) from ages 6 to 14 years old were included who each did the 6MWT once and 170 of them did the test on two occasions. The principle variable was the 6MWD and the secondary variables included heart rate, amount of dyspnea, perceived stress,... amongst others. In order to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the 6MWT, the test was carried out on four occasions in a group of 31 healthy children and 27 ill children and performing an ergospirometry on a group of 20 healthy children and 5 ill children. Results and Conclusions: The 6MWT is a feasible test for children aged 6 to 14 years old, for those who are healthy and those with respiratory illnesses, following the ATS regulations. The distance walked has a learning effect which improves in the second assessment and is stably maintained in a third. This fact has an influence on the test's reliability and as a result two predictive equations are proposed on the basis of their use in transversal studies or longitudinal studies. The proposed reference equation for transversal studies and that which accounts for 43% of the variability is: 6MWD(metres)=376.98+9.95.age(years)+ 1.92.height.(cm)–5.01.BMI(kg.m-2). The proposed reference equation for multiple assessments and that which accounts for a variability of 40% is: 6MWD(metres) = 427.43+12.16.age(years)–8.69.BMI(kg.m-2)+2.01.height(cm). The 6MWT has proven to be a valid and reliable test amongst healthy children and those with respiratory illnesses from ages 6 to 14 years old.