Is the glittre-ADL test more effective than the 6-minute walk test for evaluating adults with cystic fibrosis?

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Cardiopulmonary and skeletal muscle impairments, along with reduced physical activity, contribute to decreased functional capacity in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The Glittre-ADL test (TGlittre) presents promising potential for assessing functional capacity in adult CF patients, simulating activities of daily living. <bold>Objectives:</bold> This study aimed to evaluate TGlittre's performance in adult CF patients compared to the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and its association with pulmonary function, muscle strength, and quality of life. It was hypothesized TGlittre would better detect exercise limitations in CF patients. <bold>Methods:</bold> This cross-sectional study involved 34 CF patients and 34 controls. Participants underwent assessments including TGlittre, 6MWT, spirometry, respiratory and handgrip muscle strength, and Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R). <bold>Results:</bold> CF patients showed longer TGlittre times compared to controls (134 vs. 107% of predicted, p=0.0002), with no difference in the 6MWT. When the second TGlittre was compared to the first, a significant decrease in total time occurred for both CF patients (p<0.0001) and controls (p=0.0001). TGlittre time correlated with 6MWT distance (rs=-0.641, p<0.0001), handgrip strength (rs=-0.364, p=0.034), peripheral oxygen saturation (rs=-0.463, p=0.006), and CFQ-R "digestive symptoms" domain (rs=0.376, p=0.028). TGlittre time was shorter in physically active patients (3.10 vs. 3.28 min, p=0.016). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> TGlittre is promising for detecting exercise limitations in CF patients and correlates with various measures of pulmonary function, muscle strength, and quality of life, suggesting clinical potential.