The endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) is a simple, acceptable, field-based test first
established in 1999 to measure endurance exercise capacity in patients with chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this systematic review was to
examine the reliability and responsiveness of ESWT in COPD. Of the 791 articles
identified through electronic databases, 17 were included in this review. Qualitative
and quantitative analyses were conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, and as per Consensus-Based Standards for
the Selection of Health Status Measurements Instruments, the quality of the studies
was graded as low for reliability and moderate for responsiveness. Qualitative analysis
indicated inadequate evidence for the reliability of the ESWT in patients with COPD.
The meta-analysis found strong evidence that ESWT was responsive to change following
pulmonary rehabilitation with an estimated mean difference (ESWT time, seconds)
303.19 s (95% CI: 175.63–430.75; p< 0.001), ambulatory oxygen with a mean difference
(ESWT time, seconds) 129.04 s (95% CI: 47.98–210.09; p = 0.002), and (ESWT mean
distance, meters) 80.71 m (95% CI: 38.66–122.76; p < 0.001). The ESWT was also
responsive to bronchodilation with a mean difference of 168.62 m (95% CI: 117.03–
220.21; p < 0.001). Our findings suggest the strong potential of ESWT as a responsive
test in COPD, but to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the reliability of the ESWT,
further research is needed in this population.