title: Reference equation for 6-min walk distance in healthy North African children 6-16 years old.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the need for a 6-min walk distance (6-MWD) reference equation for healthy North African children 6-16 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional study. Anthropometric data and 6-MWD were measured in 200 healthy Tunisian children (100 girls) from 6 to 16 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Published reference equations did not reliably predict measured 6-MWD in North African children. The 6-MWD was significantly correlated with age, height, and weight (P < 0.001, each). The combination of these parameters explained 60% of the 6-MWD variability in the equation: 6-MWD (m) = 4.63 x height (cm) - 3.53 x weight (kg) + 10.42 x age (years) + 56.32. In an additional group of 41 children prospectively studied to validate the equation, the agreement between measured and predicted 6-MWD was satisfactory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This reliable 6-MWD reference equation enriches the World Bank and provides a useful reference for the care of pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de Physiologie et des Explorations Fonctionnelles, EPS Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Helmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Saad
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prefaut
authors.forename: Rayfa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Missaoui
authors.forename: Imen Hadj
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Zouhair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tabka
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayot