title: An official systematic review of the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society: measurement properties of field walking tests in chronic respiratory disease.
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.
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements sally.singh@uhl-tr.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Sally J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Milo A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Puhan
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Andrianopoulos
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Nidia A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hernandes
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Katy E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Annemarie L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Camillo
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Troosters
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Martijn A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Spruit
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Carlin
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wanger
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pepin
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saey
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pitta
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kaminsky
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Meredith C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: MacIntyre
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Culver
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sciurba
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Revill
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delafosse
authors.affiliation: For a full list of the authors' affiliations please refer to the Acknowledgements.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D005060:Europe; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking