title: [Reference values for the 6-minutes walking test in healthy Chilean children].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 6-minutes walking test (6WT) is the ideal submaximal test for the evaluation and follow-up of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. There are no reference values (RV) for Chilean children using the American Thoracic Society guidelines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To generate 6WT reference values for Chilean children aged 6 to 14 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  6MW was evaluated in 192 healthy children (100 women) aged between 6 and 14 years. The test was carried out in a 30 m long indoor flat surface. Children also answered a survey about health problems and their weight and height were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distance walked by women and men was 596.5 ± 57 and 625 ± 59.7 m respectively (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the distance walked and height (r = 0.58), age (r = 0.56), weight (r = 0.54) and reserve heart rate (r = 0.21).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results can be used as reference values for the 6WT in Chilean children aged 6 to 14 years. They are similar to those reported abroad.
authors.affiliation: Programa Nacional de Asistencia Ventilatoria No Invasiva, Chile.
authors.forename: Darwin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gatica
authors.forename: Homero
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puppo
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Villarroel
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: San Martín
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagos
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Montecino
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zenteno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*