title: Prospective validation of the endurance shuttle walking test in the context of bronchodilation in COPD.
abstract: This study focused on repeatability data and minimal important difference (MID) estimates of the endurance shuttle walking test (ESWT). 255 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 s 54.7±13.2% predicted) completed four ESWTs at different times during the 8-week study: two under baseline conditions with tiotropium (1 week apart), one after a single dose and one after 4 weeks of either fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination or placebo in addition to tiotropium. 97 patients performed all the tests with a portable metabolic system. Reproducibility of test performance and cardiorespiratory response was investigated with the data obtained on the first two ESWTs. The mean differences between the first two ESWT performances (-6.7±72.2 s and -7.3±113.1 m for endurance time and walking distance, respectively) were not statistically significant. The between-test end-exercise and isotime values for each cardiorespiratory parameter were not significantly different from each other. With the exception of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry, the repeatability of cardiorespiratory adaptations to ESWT was also confirmed with strong Pearson and intraclass correlation coefficients. Finally, changes of 56-61 s and 70-82 m in endurance time and distance walked, respectively, were perceived by patients. This study provides methodological information supporting the reliability of the ESWT and suggests MID estimates for this test.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec, Canada Laboratoire HAVAE (EA6310), Université de Limoges, Limoges, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pepin
authors.affiliation: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mahler
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Éric
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Nadreau
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec, Canada Francois.Maltais@fmed.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maltais
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000886:Anthropometry; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000068298:Fluticasone; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide