Variáveis associadas com o desempenho no teste do degrau de 6 minutos (TD6) em indivíduos adultos saudáveis

Abstract

Introduction: The 6-minute step test (TD6) has been a reproducible alternative for assessing physical capacity in both healthy and ill patients. Responses to exercise can be influenced by several factors such as gender, age, genetic and anthropometric characteristics, as well as cardiac work. Objectives: To analyze the correlation of performance in the TD6 with age, BMI, double product and spirometric variables in healthy adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, with a sample of selected people recruited in the city of Natal / RN, aged between 18 and 79 years. The subjects accomplish an anthropometric evaluation, spirometry and two TD6 of free cadence in a single day, with a 20 cm step and with an interval of 30 minutes between them. Results: 82 subjects were included, 45 women and 37 men, with a mean age of 36.1 ± 15.7 years. The number of steps climbed by men was significantly higher than that of women, 181.6 ± 25.7 and 160.2 ± 28.3 (p = 0.001), respectively. The average number of steps for individuals in the age group between 18 and 39 years was significantly higher than the average obtained in the other age groups. The number of steps correlated significantly with age, FEV1 and the double product. Conclusion: Younger men and individuals performed better on the TD6, and the number of steps climbed on the TD6 showed a greater association with age and double product than with FEV1.