The Glittre-ADL test reflects functional performance measured by physical activities of daily living in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

BackgroundThe Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre) is a valid and reliable test for the evaluation of functional capacity and involves multiple physical activities of daily living (PADL), which are known to be troublesome to patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, it is still unknown if this test is also able to reflect the functional performance of patients with COPD.ObjectiveTo investigate whether the TGlittre reflects the functional performance of COPD patients and whether the necessary time to complete the TGlittre and the PADL varies according to disease severity.MethodThirty-eight patients with COPD (age 65, SD=7 years; forced expiratory volume in the first second 41.3, SD=15.2% predicted) underwent anthropometric and lung function assessments and were submitted to the TGlittre and PADL measurement.ResultsTGlittre performance correlated significantly (p<0.05) with PADL variables, such as time sitting (r=0.50), walking (r=-0.46), number of steps taken (r=–0.53), walking movement intensity (r=–0.66), walking energy expenditure (r=-0.50), and total energy expenditure (r=–0.33). TGlittre performance was not significantly different in patients among the Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) spirometric stages, but walking and sitting time were significantly lower and greater, respectively, in severe and very severe patients compared to those with moderate disease (p<0.05).ConclusionThe performance on the TGlittre correlates with walking and sitting time and other real life PADL measurements. The severity of the disease is associated with the differences in the level of physical activity in daily life more than in functional capacity.

Functional capacity measurement: reference equations for the Glittre Activities of Daily Living test

“…In addition, the Glittre ADL-test can differentiate between the functional status of healthy individuals and that of patients with COPD 8 . Furthermore, the time to complete the Glittre ADL-test has been shown to correlate with walking and sitting time in COPD patients, as well as with other ADL 13 . Similar physiological responses were found between the Glittre ADL-test and the six-minute walk test (6MWT), oxygen uptake being slightly higher during the Glittre ADL-test 9 …”

Reliability and validity of the Glittre-ADL test to assess the functional status of patients with interstitial lung disease

“…According to results in COPD, the TGlittre induced higher oxygen consumption, but the cardiovascular and ventilatory responses were similar to those observed in the 6MWT. 14 This is the first study investigating the TGlittre applicability in ILD, with a representative sample of several subtypes, demonstrating its reliability and validity. It cannot be ruled out that the sample size may have caused a type II error in some correlation analyses.…”

“…According to results in COPD, the TGlittre induced higher oxygen consumption, but the cardiovascular and ventilatory responses were similar to those observed in the 6MWT. 14 …”

Activities of daily living in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with depressive symptoms

“…Bendixen et al 12 also found inefficiency in performing tasks involving patients with COPD, and about 90% reported tiredness and more effort in order to perform such activities; this is similar to our study, although the patients with COPD had no depressive symptoms. Functional limitations in activities of daily living may not only be perceived by patients due to the severity of lung disease, because their level of physical activity, which is required for ADL, is hindered by dyspnea 3,34 .…”