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Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently associated with a reduced functional exercise capacity. This parameter is usually evaluated using 6-minute walking test (6MWT). New tools appear regularly. The aim of this study was to validate the 3-minute step test (3MStepT) and to compare 3MStepT and 6MWT in stable patients with COPD as a tool to quantify the functional exercise capacity.
Patients with COPD admitted for a pulmonary rehabilitation program in a dedicated center were recruited and randomly performed both tests: 6MWT and 3MStepT. A training test was performed systematically before each test. Walking distance and number of repetitions (3MStepT) were measured. Cardiorespiratory parameters, dyspnea and lower limb fatigue (Borg) were recorded pre and post the tests.
Fifty patients with COPD (FEV1: 45.2 ± 18.3) were included. 6MWT (423.6 ± 96.3 m) was strongly correlated with 3MStepT (62.1 ± 18.0; r = 0.780; p < 0.001). Heart rate and SpO2 were significantly different at the end of the 6MWT and 3MStepT (respectively, 106.2 ± 16.3 vs. 112.9 ± 13.4bpm, p = 0.002; 87.6 ± 5.4 vs. 89.6 ± 5.3bpm, p = 0.001). Lower limb fatigue was significantly higher after the 3MStepT (2.5 ± 2.6 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, p = 0.01).
The 3MStepT is an alternative to the 6MWT to estimate functional exercise capacity in stable patients with COPD but cardiorespiratory adaptation and lower limb fatigue are not similar between these tests.
Disclosure statement
The authors for this manuscript disclose no relevant, real or apparent financial interest or affiliation with content discussed in this article.
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Notes on contributors
Marc Beaumont
MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the conception or design of the work. MB, AL, LP, ACB, and GR contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the drafting the work or revising it. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR given the final approval of the version to be published and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Antoine Losq
MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the conception or design of the work. MB, AL, LP, ACB, and GR contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the drafting the work or revising it. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR given the final approval of the version to be published and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Loic Péran
MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the conception or design of the work. MB, AL, LP, ACB, and GR contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the drafting the work or revising it. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR given the final approval of the version to be published and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Anne-Cécile Berriet
MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the conception or design of the work. MB, AL, LP, ACB, and GR contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the drafting the work or revising it. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR given the final approval of the version to be published and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Francis Couturaud
MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the conception or design of the work. MB, AL, LP, ACB, and GR contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the drafting the work or revising it. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR given the final approval of the version to be published and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Catherine Le Ber
MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the conception or design of the work. MB, AL, LP, ACB, and GR contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the drafting the work or revising it. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR given the final approval of the version to be published and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Grégory Reychler
MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the conception or design of the work. MB, AL, LP, ACB, and GR contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR contributed to the drafting the work or revising it. MB, AL, LP, ACB, FC, CLB, and GR given the final approval of the version to be published and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.