Validity and Reliability of the 6-minute Stepper Test in Patients With Asthma

NCT07357805 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025 - 1169
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 41
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can negatively affect exercise tolerance and functional capacity due to airway inflammation, variable airflow limitation, and symptom-related activity avoidance. Reduced physical activity levels and exercise-induced symptoms often lead to physical deconditioning, which may further impair cardiorespiratory fitness and daily functional performance in individuals with asthma. There is substantial evidence supporting the use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for the evaluation of exercise capacity in patients with respiratory diseases. However, it is not known whether the use of the 6-minute stepper test (6-MST) is a valid and reliable test for the assessment of functional exercise capacity in patients with asthma. The aim of this study is to investigate the reliability and validity of the 6-MST for evaluating functional exercise capacity in individuals with asthma.

Conditions

Asthma

Keywords

Asthma; Exercise Testing; Validity and Reliability; Field Walking Test

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• 6-minute Stepper Test

  The test was performed with a stepper device positioned 20 cm above the ground. Participants were instructed to perform stepping movements as rapidly and rhythmically as possible at a self-selected pace. Standardized verbal encouragement was provided at one-minute intervals throughout the test. Participants were advised that they were permitted to pause and rest during the test if they experienced symptoms severe enough to prevent continued stepping, and that all rest periods would be included in the total test duration. Total number of step were recorded.

  First day

• Oxygen consumption (Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test)

  Oxygen consumption was measured with Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test. The CPET was performed using a gradually increasing workload protocol with breath-by-breath measurement on a treadmill.

  Second day

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Pulmonary function (Forced vital capacity (FVC))

  First day

• Pulmonary function (Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1))

  First day

• Pulmonary function (FEV1 / FVC)

  First day

• Pulmonary function (Flow rate 25-75% of forced expiratory volume (FEF 25-75%))

  First day

• Pulmonary function (Peak flow rate (PEF))

  First day

Study Arms (1)

Patients with asthma

All patients' clinical data, maximal exercise capacity, functional exercise capacity, pulmonary function, dyspnea, and quality of life were evaluated.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Forty-one patients with asthma were included.

You may qualify if:

• Age \> 18 years
• Diagnosis of asthma established according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines
• Use of standard asthma pharmacological treatment, including: inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), low-dose ICS in combination with long-acting β₂-agonists (LABA), or mild to high doses of ICS in combination with LABA
• Asthma Control Test (ACT) score ≥ 20
• Smoking history of ≤ 10 pack-years

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of a recent respiratory tract infection
• Use of systemic corticosteroids within the past year
• History of smoking
• Previous or current malignancy
• Presence of any medical condition that could affect functional exercise capacity
• Presence of any psychiatric disorder

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gazi University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Çankaya 06490

Ankara, Çankaya, 06490, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Grosbois JM, Riquier C, Chehere B, Coquart J, Behal H, Bart F, Wallaert B, Chenivesse C. Six-minute stepper test: a valid clinical exercise tolerance test for COPD patients. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2016 Mar 29;11:657-63. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S98635. eCollection 2016.

  PMID: 27099483 RESULT

• Marinho RS, Jurgensen SP, Arcuri JF, Goulart CL, Santos PBD, Roscani MG, Mendes RG, Oliveira CR, Caruso FR, Borghi-Silva A. Reliability and validity of six-minute step test in patients with heart failure. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2021 Jul 16;54(10):e10514. doi: 10.1590/1414-431X2020e10514. eCollection 2021.

  PMID: 34287574 RESULT

• Arcuri JF, Borghi-Silva A, Labadessa IG, Sentanin AC, Candolo C, Pires Di Lorenzo VA. Validity and Reliability of the 6-Minute Step Test in Healthy Individuals: A Cross-sectional Study. Clin J Sport Med. 2016 Jan;26(1):69-75. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000190.

  PMID: 25706661 RESULT

• American Thoracic Society; American College of Chest Physicians. ATS/ACCP Statement on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 Jan 15;167(2):211-77. doi: 10.1164/rccm.167.2.211. No abstract available.

  PMID: 12524257 RESULT

• Borel B, Fabre C, Saison S, Bart F, Grosbois JM. An original field evaluation test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease population: the six-minute stepper test. Clin Rehabil. 2010 Jan;24(1):82-93. doi: 10.1177/0269215509343848.

  PMID: 20053721 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Asthma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bronchial Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• MERAL BOŞNAK GÜÇLÜ

  Gazi University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• NİHAN KATAYIFÇI

  Gazi University

  STUDY CHAIR

• FURKAN ÖZDEMİR

  Çankırı Karatekin University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof. Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 23, 2025
• First Posted: January 22, 2026
• Study Start: June 24, 2017
• Primary Completion: January 24, 2019
• Study Completion: January 24, 2019
• Last Updated: February 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)