Physiological and symptomatological responses to two functional tests in adults with asthma

Abstract

Introduction: People with asthma may experience impairment in exercise capacity and activities of daily living (ADLs). The six-minute walk test (6MWT) assesses functional exercise capacity, and the Glittre Activities of Daily Living test (TGlittre-ADL) assesses performance in ADLs. Objective: To compare the physiological and symptomatic responses of the 6MWT and the TGlittre-ADL in adults with asthma. Methods: Adults with asthma were evaluated for pulmonary function, functional capacity, performance in ADLs, asthma control and severity, and quality of life. Symptomatic responses (Borg fatigue scale - BorgF and dyspnea scale - BorgD) and physiological responses were recorded at the beginning and end of the TGlittre-ADL and the 6MWT: systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), peak expiratory flow (PEF). Delta values ​​(Δ = post–pre) were calculated and the Wilcoxon test was used for comparisons. Results: Fifty-eight adults were included (69% women, 44 ± 15 years, body mass index: 26 [22-30] kg/m2, forced expiratory volume in the first second: 80 ± 7% predicted, 6MWT: 559 ± 88 meters and TGlittre-ADL: 190 [174-232] seconds). There was a higher ΔSpO2 in the 6MWT (p = 0.013) and ΔHR in the TGlittre-ADL (p < 0.001), with no difference between the tests in ΔSBP, ΔDBP, ΔBorgD, ΔBorgF and ΔPEF. Conclusion: Although there were no differences in the sensation of dyspnea and fatigue, nor in the inotropic response, between the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the TGlittre-ADL test showed a greater chronotropic response in the TGlittre-ADL test and greater variation in SpO2 in the 6MWT. Researchers and clinicians evaluating adults with asthma should consider that these two tests are not interchangeable.