Table 1

Reference equations for 6MWD over a 10 m course

Basic equation
 ♂ 6MWD = 1266 − (7.80*age) − (5.92*BMI)
 LLN = 6MWDpredicted − 163
 ♀ 6MWD = 1064 − (5.28*age) − (6.55*BMI)
 LLN = 6MWDpredicted − 119		r2 = 0.52
r2 = 0.59
Extended equation*
 ♂ 6MWD = 1073 − (6.03*age) − (5.79*BMI) + (1.86*HRchange)
 LLN = 6MWDpredicted − 146
 ♀ 6MWD = 878 − (3.60*age) − (6.42*BMI) + (1.95*HRchange)
 LLN = 6MWDpredicted − 101		r2 = 0.62
r2 = 0.71

  • *The choice whether the extended model can be used should depend on the considerations of the healthcare provider.

  • 6MWD, 6-minute walk distance in m; age in years; BMI, body mass index in kg/m2; HRchange, change in heart rate in beats per minute (heart rate measured directly after the test minus heart rate measured at rest before the test); LLN, lower limit of normal; r2, the coefficient of determination, the proportion of variability in a dataset that is accounted for by a statistical model.