Oxygen desaturation in healthy subjects undergoing the incremental shuttle walk test

• Published in: Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 440 - 446
• Main Authors: Seixas, Daniel Machado, Seixas, Daniela Miti Tsukumo, Pereira, Monica Corso, Moreira, Marcos Mello, Paschoal, Ilma Aparecida
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise Test - methods; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume - physiology; Humans; Indice de massa corporal; Male; Original; Oximetria; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Reference Values; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; Rest - physiology; Testes de funcao cardiaca; Testes de funcao respiratoria; Walking - physiology; Body mass index; Oximetria; Oximetry; Heart function tests; Testes de funcao respiratoria; Testes de funcao cardiaca; Respiratory function tests; Indice de massa corporal
• ISSN: 1806-3713; 1806-3756; 1806-3756; 1806-3713
• DOI: 10.1590/S1806-37132013000400007

To determine the probability of oxygen desaturation in healthy individuals undergoing the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT). We enrolled 83 healthy subjects: 55 males (including 1 smoker) and 28 females. We determined pre-ISWT FEV1, FEV6, HR and SpO2, as well as post-ISWT HR and SpO2. Mean values overall were as follows: age, 35.05 ± 12.53 years; body mass index, 24.30 ± 3.47 kg/m2; resting HR, 75.12 ± 12.48 bpm; resting SpO2, 97.96 ± 1.02%; FEV1, 3.75 ± 0.81 L; FEV6, 4.45 ± 0.87 L; FEV1/FEV6 ratio, 0.83 ± 0.08 (no restriction or obstruction); incremental shuttle walk distance, 958.30 ± 146.32 m; post-ISWT HR, 162.41 ± 18.24 bpm; and post-ISWT SpO2, 96.27 ± 2.21%. In 11 subjects, post-ISWT SpO2 was higher than was pre-ISWT SpO2. In 17 subjects, there was a 4% decrease in SpO2 after the ISWT. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with and without post-ISWT oxygen desaturation in terms of age, gender, FEV1, FEV6, FEV1/FEV6, pre-ISWT SpO2, incremental shuttle walk distance, HR, or percentage of maximal HR. In the individuals with post-ISWT oxygen desaturation, the body mass index was higher (p = 0.01) and post-ISWT SpO2 was lower (p = 0.0001). Healthy individuals can present oxygen desaturation after the ISWT. Using the ISWT to predict subtle respiratory abnormalities can be misleading. In healthy subjects, oxygen desaturation is common after the ISWT, as it is during any intense physical activity.