ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to compare the available reference values and the
six-minute walk test equations in healthy children/adolescents. Our
systematic review was planned and performed in accordance with the PRISMA
guidelines. We included all studies that established reference values for
the six-minute walk test in healthy children/adolescents.MethodsTo perform this review, a research was performed in PubMed, EMBASE (via
SCOPUS) and Cochrane (LILACS), Bibliographic Index Spanish in Health
Sciences, Organization Collection Pan-American Health Organization,
Publications of the World Health Organization and Scientific Electronic
Library Online (SciELO) via Virtual Health Library until June 2015 without
language restriction.ResultsThe initial research identified 276 abstracts. Twelve studies met the
inclusion criteria and were fully reviewed and approved by both reviewers.
None of the selected studies presented sample size calculation. Most of the
studies recruited children and adolescents from school. Six studies reported
the use of random samples. Most studies used a corridor of 30 meters. All
studies followed the American Thoracic Society guidelines to perform the
six-minute walk test. The walked distance ranged 159 meters among the
studies. Of the 12 included studies, 7 (58%) reported descriptive data and 6
(50%) established reference equation for the walked distance in the
six-minute walk test.ConclusionThe reference value for the six-minute walk test in children and adolescents
ranged substantially from studies in different countries. A reference
equation was not provided in all studies, but the ones available took into
account well established variables in the context of exercise performance,
such as height, heart rate, age and weight. Countries that did not
established reference values for the six-minute walk test should be
encouraged to do because it would help their clinicians and researchers have
a more precise interpretation of the test.