Abstract
Introduction: The incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) may be a valuable tool for
measuring exercise tolerance in patients after a hospital admission with COVID-19.
However, the safety, physiological response, and repeatability of the ISWT is unknown inthis cohort. The present study aimed to explore the properties of this test using the Post-Hospital COVID-19 (PHOSP-COVID) study.
Methods: Participants performed two ISWTs, with a 30 min rest between tests, at 5- and 12-months post-hospital discharge for COVID-19. Heart rate and fingertip peripheral oxygensaturation were recorded pre- and post-test. Reasons for test termination were noted.
Results: 1593 individuals (58[50-66] years; BMI: 31.2[27.6-35.8] kg/m2; 967[60.7%] male)
performed an ISWT; two tests were performed by 1034 and 390 participants at the 5- and12-month visit, respectively. At 5 months post-discharge, six patients (0.4%) had an adverse event and the most common reason contributing to test termination was breathlessness (n;%: 826; 54.2%). 336/1470 (22.9%) participants experienced exertional desaturation.Distance walked was greater in the second ISWT compared to the first ISWT at 5- and 12-months post-discharge (mean difference: 5 months: 19 ± 94 m; 12 months: 11 ± 80 m;p<0.05), with an ICC estimate of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95-0.97) at 5 months and 0.97 (95% CI:0.96-0.97) at 12 months.
Conclusion: The ISWT appeared to be safe in this large cohort, supporting use of this field-walking test for this population in clinical and research settings. A familiarisation test is recommended, with further study needed to determine the number of familiarisation tests required to achieve acceptable within-day repeatability.
measuring exercise tolerance in patients after a hospital admission with COVID-19.
However, the safety, physiological response, and repeatability of the ISWT is unknown inthis cohort. The present study aimed to explore the properties of this test using the Post-Hospital COVID-19 (PHOSP-COVID) study.
Methods: Participants performed two ISWTs, with a 30 min rest between tests, at 5- and 12-months post-hospital discharge for COVID-19. Heart rate and fingertip peripheral oxygensaturation were recorded pre- and post-test. Reasons for test termination were noted.
Results: 1593 individuals (58[50-66] years; BMI: 31.2[27.6-35.8] kg/m2; 967[60.7%] male)
performed an ISWT; two tests were performed by 1034 and 390 participants at the 5- and12-month visit, respectively. At 5 months post-discharge, six patients (0.4%) had an adverse event and the most common reason contributing to test termination was breathlessness (n;%: 826; 54.2%). 336/1470 (22.9%) participants experienced exertional desaturation.Distance walked was greater in the second ISWT compared to the first ISWT at 5- and 12-months post-discharge (mean difference: 5 months: 19 ± 94 m; 12 months: 11 ± 80 m;p<0.05), with an ICC estimate of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95-0.97) at 5 months and 0.97 (95% CI:0.96-0.97) at 12 months.
Conclusion: The ISWT appeared to be safe in this large cohort, supporting use of this field-walking test for this population in clinical and research settings. A familiarisation test is recommended, with further study needed to determine the number of familiarisation tests required to achieve acceptable within-day repeatability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 00089-2025 |
| Journal | ERJ Open Research |
| Early online date | 30 May 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 30 May 2025 |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- exercise tolerance
- incremental shuttle walk test
- rehabilitation
