Physical activity level and performance in the six-minute walk test of children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia

ABSTRACT Background: To establish determinants of maximum walking distance in the 6-minute walk test of children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia, and to compare the performance in this test with physical activity level between patients and healthy controls. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in which the participants answered the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and Adolescents, and completed the 6-minute walk test. Main results: Fifty-seven patients and 58 controls were studied. By univariate analysis of the patients, age (p < 0.0001) and indirect bili...