Aim: To establish predictive values for the six minutes walk test (6MWT) specific to subjects old more than 40 years from Tunisian population and to compare them with the other pre-established reference equations.
Methods: 155 voluntary Tunisian subjects, including 75 women, from 40 to 80 years old, sedentaries, no smokers, and without acute or chronic pathologies carried 2 TM6m in a hospital corridor on a way of 30 meters length according to the American Thoracic Society recommendations. Covered distance, heart rate and level of dyspnea were given during each 6MWT.
Results: The covered distance was better at the second 6MWT and was significantly different from the predicted values from pre-established equations. Age, sex, weight and size contributed in a multiple linear regression model to explain 60% of the variance of the covered distance and to establish the following regression equation: calculated distance (m) = 299.8 - (4.34 * ageyears) + (342.6 * heightm) - (1.46 * weightkg) + (62.5 * sex) with sex=1 for men and 0 for women and the lower Limit of the normal = calculated distance--124.5 m
Conclusion: The use of the regression equation established in this study would be adapted to the subjects between 40 and 80 years old and pertaining to the Tunisian population, and its use must be limited to these criteria.