Six-minute walk distance reference values using a 15-metre course: A pragmatic study for resource-constrained settings
- 1Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India
- 2Department of Community Medicine & Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India
- 3Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India
Abstract
Background The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple, widely used measure of functional exercise capacity in children. Standard protocols recommend a 30-meter walking course; however, this is often impractical in routine clinical settings, particularly in resource-limited environments. Normative data for Indian children, especially younger age groups and under pragmatic testing conditions, remain limited.Objectives To establish age- and sex-specific reference values for six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in apparently healthy Indian children aged 4–14 years using a pragmatic 15-meter walking course and evaluate associations with anthropometric variables.Methods In this community-based cross-sectional study, 400 healthy school-going children underwent the 6MWT using a standardized 15-meter indoor course. Anthropometric and baseline physiological parameters were recorded. Percentile reference values were generated, and multivariable linear regression was performed to identify determinants of 6MWD and derive a predictive equation.Results Mean (SD) 6MWD was 365.3 (50.8) meters. Distance increased significantly with age, height, weight, and body mass index (all p<0.001). After adjustment, no independent sex-based differences were observed. The predictive equation was: 6MWD = 279.5 + 8.6 × age (years) + 2.7 × weight (kg) – 5.0 × BMI (kg/m2) (R2 = 0.62). No significant differences were observed by residence or school type.Conclusions This study provides 15-meter course-specific reference values for 6MWD in healthy Indian children aged 4–14 years. The derived predictive equation may assist interpretation of 6MWD obtained using this protocol; however, external validation and direct comparison with the standard 30-meter course are required before broader application, where longer courses are not feasible.
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BibTeX
@article{jaladi2026sixminute,
title = {{Six-minute walk distance reference values using a 15-metre course: A pragmatic study for resource-constrained settings}},
author = {Harini Chowdary Jaladi and Krishna Mohan Gulla and Rashmi Ranjan Das and Binod Kumar Behera and Saurav Nayak and Bhagirathi Dwibedi},
journal = {Pulmonology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/25310429.2026.2751770},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/25310429.2026.2751770},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Six-minute walk distance reference values using a 15-metre course: A pragmatic study for resource-constrained settings
AU - Harini Chowdary Jaladi
AU - Krishna Mohan Gulla
AU - Rashmi Ranjan Das
AU - Binod Kumar Behera
AU - Saurav Nayak
AU - Bhagirathi Dwibedi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Pulmonology
DO - 10.1080/25310429.2026.2751770
UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/25310429.2026.2751770
AB - Background The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a simple, widely used measure of functional exercise capacity in children. Standard protocols recommend a 30-meter walking course; however, this is often impractical in routine clinical settings, particularly in resource-limited environments. Normative data for Indian children, especially younger age groups and under pragmatic testing conditions, remain limited.Objectives To establish age- and sex-specific reference values for six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in apparently healthy Indian children aged 4–14 years using a pragmatic 15-meter walking course and evaluate associations with anthropometric variables.Methods In this community-based cross-sectional study, 400 healthy school-going children underwent the 6MWT using a standardized 15-meter indoor course. Anthropometric and baseline physiological parameters were recorded. Percentile reference values were generated, and multivariable linear regression was performed to identify determinants of 6MWD and derive a predictive equation.Results Mean (SD) 6MWD was 365.3 (50.8) meters. Distance increased significantly with age, height, weight, and body mass index (all p<0.001). After adjustment, no independent sex-based differences were observed. The predictive equation was: 6MWD = 279.5 + 8.6 × age (years) + 2.7 × weight (kg) – 5.0 × BMI (kg/m2) (R2 = 0.62). No significant differences were observed by residence or school type.Conclusions This study provides 15-meter course-specific reference values for 6MWD in healthy Indian children aged 4–14 years. The derived predictive equation may assist interpretation of 6MWD obtained using this protocol; however, external validation and direct comparison with the standard 30-meter course are required before broader application, where longer courses are not feasible.
SN - 2531-0437
SN - 2531-0429
ER -