The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma | 2021
Validity and Reliability of 6-Minute Pegboard and Ring Test in Patients with Asthma.
Abstract
Objective: The 6-minute pegboard and ring test (6PBRT) is a test of upper-extremity functional capacity designed for and validated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the 6PBRT in asthma patients.Methods: Thirty-four adults (30 women, 4 men) with well-controlled asthma were included. Unsupported upper-extremity exercise capacity was assessed using 6PBRT, maximal arm exercise capacity using an arm ergometer, handgrip strength using a hand dynamometer, activities of daily living with the London Chest Activities of Daily Living Scale (LCADL), Milliken ADL scale (MAS) and health-related quality of life using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI).Results: The 6PBRT showed moderate to excellent test-retest reliability with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value of 0.872 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.702-0.941]. The 6PBRT was reproducible according to Bland-Altman analysis, with upper and lower limits of agreement of 53.51 and -25.08 rings moved, respectively. The 6PBRT score was significantly correlated with maximum workload (r\u2009=\u20090.514, p\u2009=\u20090.002) achieved in the arm ergometer test, change in dyspnea during 6PBRT (r=-0.402, p\u2009=\u20090.020), LCADL-self-care (r=-0.364, p\u2009=\u20090.037), MAS total (r\u2009=\u20090.483, p\u2009=\u20090.005), AQLQ-symptom domain (r\u2009=\u20090.420, p\u2009=\u20090.026) and HAQ-DI total scores (r=-0.390, p\u2009=\u20090.025).Conclusions: The 6PBRT can be used as a valid and reliable test to evaluate functional arm exercise capacity in patients with well-controlled asthma.