Assessment of the cardiovascular fitness of non-exercising subjects using six minute walk test

In order to assess the cardiovascular fitness of non exercising healthy adults, a standardized 6- min walk test was conducted on 15 healthy men and 15 healthy women, aged 40 to 50 years. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and the degree of dyspnea (Borg scale) were determined before and after the test. Mean 6MWD+/− SD was 611m+/−33.45 for males and 550m+/−45.4 for females. The 6MWD was significantly less for men and women who were heavier and shorter. The difference in observed cardiovascular parameters before and after the test was also higher in females than males. The subjective sensation of dyspnea as measured by Borg Scale was also higher in females than males. These differences may be used to individualize the exercise protocols for males and females and also to highlight the importance of regular exercise.