Background:

The six-minute walk test (SMWT) is an easy-to-use test that measures walking distance.

Aim:

To elaborate an equation to estimate the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) using the results of the SMWT.

Material and Methods:

Forty men and 40 women aged 22.5 ± 2 years, underwent a SMWT to measure the total walked distance and the recovery heart rate (RhR) Also, VO2 max was estimated from the maximal workload achieved in a cyclo-ergometer using the Storer test. A multivariate regression analysis resulted in a prediction equation that was validated with distributional assumptions of normality, independence and homoscedasticity. The limits of concordance of the predictive model were checked with the Bland-Altman diagram.

Results:

Body mass index (BMI), sex, RhR and total walked distance explained VO2 max variance by 3.4, 73.1, 17.9 and 32.8%, respectively. The prediction equation achieved was VO2 max (ml.min−1) = −3672.585 + (966.472 × Sex [1: female, 2: male]) + (-18.492 X RhR [beats.minute−1]) + (9.191 X Distance [m]) + (87.707 × BMI). The R2 of the equation was 0.91 (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

This equation predicts VO2 max in Chilean university students according to sex, BMI, cardiovascular response and performance in the SMWT.