COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF SIX MINUTES WALK TEST ON OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKER AND OXYGEN SATURATION IN MALE AND FEMALE YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

The six minute walk test is a submaximal cardiopulmonary functional exercise which can be used to establish the level of functional impairment of an individual. This study was aimed at determining the effect of six minute walk test on oxidative stress marker (catalase) and oxygen saturation in males and females. One hundred and four (104) subjects were recruited for this study, in which they were made up of 52 males and 52 females. The subjects were made to sit and rest for 10 minutes located near the starting point and their pre-walk oxygen saturation was measured using the pulse oximeter. They were then instructed to walk back and forth as fast as possible for six minute on a 30 meter walkway. After the six minute walk, the distance was measured and post walk oxygen saturation was measured. Then blood samples were taken after the walk from the subjects using 5ml syringe and transferred into a plain sample bottle. Catalase activity was determined by spectrophotometric method. Statistical analysis was done using graph pad prism version 8.1. Data were presented as mean + SEM (standard error of mean). Unpaired student t- test was used to compare the mean of test and control values. p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results showed no significant statistical difference between the pre- and post-walk oxygen saturation and catalase levels. It was also observed that there was no significant difference in oxygen saturation and catalase levels when the male was compared with the female subjects. Conclusively, six-minute walk test does not induce any significant reduction in oxygen saturation nor in oxidative stress in the male compared with the female subjects.