Abstract
This systematic review examined the measurement properties of the 6-min walk test (6MWT), incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) and endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) in adults with chronic respiratory disease.
Studies that report the evaluation or use of the 6MWT, ISWT or ESWT were included. We searched electronic databases for studies published between January 2000 and September 2013.
The 6-min walking distance (6MWD) is a reliable measure (intra-class correlation coefficients ranged from 0.82 to 0.99 in seven studies). There is a learning effect, with greater distance walked on the second test (pooled mean improvement of 26 m in 13 studies). Reliability was similar for ISWT and ESWT, with a learning effect also evident for ISWT (pooled mean improvement of 20 m in six studies). The 6MWD correlates more strongly with peak work capacity (r=0.59–0.93) and physical activity (r=0.40–0.85) than with respiratory function (r=0.10–0.59). Methodological factors affecting 6MWD include track length, encouragement, supplemental oxygen and walking aids. Supplemental oxygen also affects ISWT and ESWT performance. Responsiveness was moderate to high for all tests, with greater responsiveness to interventions that included exercise training.
The findings of this review demonstrate that the 6MWT, ISWT and ESWT are robust tests of functional exercise capacity in adults with chronic respiratory disease.
Abstract
Systematic review: support for use of the 6MWT, ISWT and ESWT in adults with chronic respiratory disease http://ow.ly/Bq2Mz
Footnotes
This article has supplementary material available from erj.ersjournals.com
Support statement: The realisation of this systematic review would not have been possible without the financial support of the European Respiratory Society and American Thoracic Society. Sally J. Singh is supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care East Midlands (CLAHRC EM), and work took place at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Support was also provided by the NIHR Leicester Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Dept of Health.
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside the online version of this article at erj.ersjournals.com
- Received August 17, 2014.
- Accepted August 31, 2014.
- ©ERS 2014