Short Versus Standard Corridor Six-Minute Walk Test in Older Adults with Controlled Arterial Hypertension: Clinical Agreement and Determinants of Performance

Arterial hypertension (AH) is strongly associated with reduced functional capacity and elevated cardiovascular risk. The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) assesses submaximal exercise capacity; however, the standard 30 m walkway is often unavailable in clinical settings, necessitating the use of shorter corridors. Evidence regarding the agreement between different walkway lengths in hypertensive populations remains limited. This study investigated the agreement between 15 m and 30 m 6MWT protocols in 23 older adults with medically controlled AH (13 men, 10 women; age 74.04 ± 8.89 years) in randomized order. Anthropometric, cardiovascular, physical activity (IPAQ), and health-related quality of life (SF-36) data were collected. Results showed significantly greater walking distances on the 30 m walkway (p < 0.001). Moderate agreement was observed between protocols (ICC = 0.65), with Bland–Altman analysis demonstrating systematically higher distances on the 30 m walkway. Age was negatively correlated with performance, while height and SF-36 physical functioning showed positive correlations (p < 0.05). Distinct regression models for each protocol suggest walkway-specific performance determinants. Although the 15 m protocol demonstrated acceptable agreement, it should not be used interchangeably with the standard 30 m protocol in older adults with controlled arterial hypertension. Further research is required to better understand the relationship between the two protocols.