Valoración de la capacidad aeróbica, mediante la aplicación del Test de caminata de 6 minutos en los adultos mayores del Centro de cuidados del Adulto Mayor. Cuenca. Septiembre 2022-febrero 2023

Abstract

Background: The aerobic capacity of an organism serves to maintain a movement intensity during a period of time and is determined by the sufficiency of the organism to use the aerobic metabolism during physical activity. This capacity tends to involute during aging and sedentary lifestyle; therefore, its evaluation is essential in older adults with or without cardiopulmonary diseases. Objective: To know the aerobic capacity of older adults through the 6-minute walk test at the Care Center for the Elderly during the period September 2022- February 2023. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional, observational and prospective study was carried out in individuals who attend the Care Center for the Elderly. The response of the cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurosensory systems to the stress imposed by exercise was evaluated in an integrated manner using the maximum distance that an individual can walk for six minutes using the 6-minute walk test. Results: There was a predominance of female sex, with a mean age of 79.44 years, most of the participants were overweight, and a minority had a cardiopulmonary history. When applying the 6 Minute Walk Test, most patients did not comply with the meters determined for their age, likewise, when using the Borg scale, most of them presented severe dyspnea levels, likewise, there is a significant relationship in terms of age with the meters walked and the severity of dyspnea as well as with the cardiopulmonary history. Conclusions: In the application of the test, the participants did not meet the predicted meters for their age, additionally, having a cardiopulmonary history or 80 years or older was significantly related to severe dyspnea, but not nutritional status and sex.