Incremental shuttle walk test as an indicator of decreased exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is accompanied by a number of clinical symptoms, from cough and breathlessness to system disorders as a result of comorbidities. These manifestations have a significant effect on decreased exercise tolerance. Patients are limited in activities of daily living and in physical activities, especially walking, walking upstairs and uphill. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess exercise tolerance and compare the results of the Incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) in patients with severe COPD and a group of healthy individuals. The next aim was focused on the changes in haemoglobin oxygen saturation during the test, Borg scale values and reasons for termination of the test. Methods: The research sample consisted of 17 patients (mean age 65.5 +/- 7.3 years) with severe COPD (post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second less than 60%). The group of healthy individuals consisted of 17 healthy individuals (mean age 62.6 +/- 2.0 years). The participants underwent ISWT. Throughout the whole test, saturation and heart rate were monitored using a finger oximeter recorder. Results: Patients with COPD covered a significantly shorter distance in ISWT (p < .001), they were subject to more significant decrease in saturation (9%), reported subjective breathlessness more (p < .001), and the test presented greater exertion for them (14.2 +/- 3.2 vs. 10.7 +/- 1.9). Conclusions: This study confirmed a decreased level of exercise tolerance in patients with severe COPD. Another conclusion of the study is that exercise assessed by means of the ISWT causes greater desaturation in COPD patients compared with healthy individuals.