For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the ability to perform functional activities for a prolonged duration is important for completion of daily tasks. While the Glittre-ADL test measures time taken to complete a series of functional activities, there is no test of endurance capacity for common daily activities.

Is the Glittre Endurance test a valid and responsive test to measure endurance capacity for functional daily tasks in people with COPD?

This was a cross-sectional study. Fifty-seven participants with COPD (mean ± SD age:69 ± 7 years; FEV₁:48 ± 18%predicted) were recruited. All participants performed the Glittre-ADL test without a backpack (Glittre-ADL-noBP). Nine participants (Group A) performed a Glittre Endurance test at 90% of the speed to complete one lap of the Glittre-ADL-noBP. 48 participants (Group B) performed two Glittre Endurance tests at 100% of Glittre-ADL-noBP speed. The time to voluntary cessation or not keeping up with target pace was the test outcome.

Mean ± SD of the Glittre Endurance test was 12.11 ± 6.43 min and 6.90 ± 4.40 min for the test at 90% and 100% speeds, respectively. When the 100% Glittre Endurance test 2 was compared to test 1, there was a 14% increase in test time, indicating a learning effect (p = 0.005). Following pulmonary rehabilitation (n = 20) the Glittre Endurance test increased by 3.12 min (29%), and the Glittre-ADL-noBP reduced by 0.33 min (10%).

The Glittre Endurance test performed at 100% of the Glittre-ADL-noBP speed provided an appropriate endurance test time, and was more sensitive to change following pulmonary rehabilitation than the Glittre-ADL-noBP.