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KEYWORDS 6-minute walk distance; 6-minute walk test; predicted equationsAbstract The aims of this study were to determine the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), establish prediction equations for the 6MWD in apparently healthy Nigerians, evaluate any effects regarding participant sex, and compare measured 6MWDs with the predicted 6MWD from reference equations derived from other populations. Four hundred and twenty two (422) apparently healthy Nigerians participated in the study. The 6-minute walk test was carried out according to the American Thoracic Standard-standardized protocol. The 6MWD obtained from the study was compared with reference values from other foreign populations. There were no significant differences between the mean age and mean weight of the male and female participants. However, significant difference existed in the mean height and mean body mass index (BMI; p < 0.001) of these participants. Male participants covered a statistically significant longer distance than female participants (p < 0.001). The mean 6MWD measured in Nigerian participants (517.6 AE 72.2 m) was statistically lower than 6MWD in Americans, Brazilians, and Tunisians and was higher than in Arabians (p 0.002), respectively. The 6-MWD in healthy Nigerians cannot be predicted by established reference equations from other populations. The regression equations established in this study may better predict the distance for Nigerians.

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Background: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a simple, reliable, and valid test that uses the distance walked in 6 minute walk distance (6MWD) to quantify functional capacity, is widely used in the management of chronic disorders. However, the absence of reference standards from sub-Saharan African, including Nigerian, school-aged children limits its utility in this age group. Objectives: To develop normative values and equations for the 6MWD of school-aged Nigerian children. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, healthy children aged 6-11 years in Lagos, Nigeria, completed the 6MWT on 20-m-long straight outdoor courses in their schools. The primary outcome was the 6MWD in meters while potential predictors included demographic (age, sex), anthropometric (height, weight, chest circumference, leg length) and physiologic variables (pre-walk, immediate post-walk, and fifth min-post-walk heart rate [HR], oxygen saturation [SpO 2 ], systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], and rating of perceived exertion [RPE]; and the difference between pre-walk and post-walk HR [ΔHR], SpO 2 [ΔSpO 2 ], SBP [ΔSBP], DBP [ΔDBP], and RPE [ΔRPE]).

BACKGROUND: The six-minute walk test (6MWT), a simple, reliable and valid test that uses the distance walked in six minutes (six-minute walk distance, 6MWD) to quantify functional exercise capacity, is widely used in chronic cardiopulmonary and non-cardiopulmonary disorders. However, th absence of reference standards for Nigerian school-aged children limits its utility in this age group OBJECTIVES: To develop normative values and equations for the 6MWT of school-aged Nigerian children METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, healthy Nigerian children aged 6-11 years in Lagos completed 6MWT on 20-meter straight outdoor courses in their schools following standardized guidelines. Potential predictors: demographic (age, sex), anthropometric (height, weight, chest circumference, leg length) and physiological data [pre-walk, immediate post-walk and 5th-minute post-walk heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE)] and the difference between pre-walk and post-walk HR (HR change), SpO2 (SpO2 change), SBP (SBP change), DBP (DBP change) and RPE (RPE change). Primary outcomes:six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in meters. RESULTS: Overall, 627 pupils (52.1% girls) walked 504.6 (66.6) m (95% CI: 499.4, 509.8), ranging from 326.6 to 673.0 m; boys walking 16 m longer (p=0.002). Stepwise linear regression yielded 6MWD=347.9+14(Age in years)+1.6(HR change)+17.6(sex; male=1, female=0)+1.2(SBP change);R square=0.25.Previously published reference equations mostly over-estimated Nigerian children's 6MWD. CONCLUSION: The reference values and equations, after validation in other Nigerian geographic populations, may be useful for the functional evaluation of Nigerian children aged 6-11 years with chronic childhood disorders.

Objective estimates of cardiovascular performance and fitness can be obtained through standardized exercise tests. This study was to evaluate the cardiovascular responses of Nigerian population of adult patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) to the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT).Participants were 15 adult patients with CHF and 30 age‐matched, apparently healthy individuals with no history of cardiovascular disorders. Ethical clearance was secured from the institutional committee and informed consent obtained from the subjects. On the day of exercise, pre‐test cardiovascular parameters – heart rate (HR), respiratory rate and blood pressure (systolic ‐SBP and diastolic ‐DBP) – were taken; after which the subjects went through the standardized procedures of 6MWT. Differences between the pre‐test and post‐test values and percentage differences were computed. For male and female study and control subjects, paired t‐tests were used to evaluate the significance differences between the pre‐test and post‐test mean values of HR, SBP and DBP. After the 6MWT in male patients, there was 9% increase in HR while female patients had an 8.5% increase (P>0.05). The male control subjects had a 13.4% increase while female control subjects had 9% increase (P>0.05). Significant increases were obtained in DBP for male patients, male control subjects and female control subjects. The 6MWT is a safe and simple instrument for demonstrating cardiovascular responses to sub‐maximal exercise in patients with heart disease and will be useful in compromised communities with limited resources.

Background/Aims The changes in body weight, body shape and hormones of pregnant women alter the posture and gait pattern of these individuals compared to non-pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pregnancy on selected gait parameters by evaluating footprints at the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and comparing with apparently healthy, non-pregnant women. Methods A total of 40 consenting women (20 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant age-matched women) aged 22–35 years old (mean 28.25±0.68 years) participated in this study. Footprints were obtained from each participant and selected gait parameters were computed from the footprints. Paired t-tests and independent t-tests were used to compare the variables at P<0.05. Results There was a significant difference in the gait parameters measured between the pregnant and non-pregnant women: gait velocity (P=0.001), cadence (P=0.001), right foot angle (P=0.001), left foot angle (P=0.002), base of support (P=0.001), right step length (P=0.001), left step length (P=0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the gait parameters measured between the pregnant women in their second and third trimesters. Conclusions Pregnancy is associated with significant changes in most gait variables compared to non-pregnant women, although no significant change was observed between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The inclusion of gait training during antenatal care may help reduce the effect on the musculoskeletal system.