Comparison between 6 Min Walk Test and Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in Middle Aged Women with Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study

Background: It is estimated that ~415 million individuals around the globe are living with diabetes, with 91% of them having type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant clinical and economic burden for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Women with type 2 diabetes have a 25–50% higher relative risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event compared to men with the same condition. Objective: To compare the incremental shuttle, walk test (ISWT) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes. Method: A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted to assess cardio-respiratory fitness using the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes, and to compare ISWT and 6MWT in middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes. A total of 15 participants were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Both tests, with a 30-minute rest in between, were conducted. Result: Comparison between two cardio-respiratory fitness tests was done using a paired t-test. The mean VO₂ max for the 6-minute walk test was 17.616±2.775, while for the incremental shuttle walk test, it was slightly lower at 16.851±1.084. The t-value of 1.347 and p-value of 0.199 indicate that the difference is not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The t-value of 10.748 and p-value of p<0.001 suggest a highly significant difference (p < 0.05), indicating that the 6-minute walk test allows for significantly greater distance coverage compared to the incremental shuttle walk test. Conclusion: The significant difference in distance suggests the 6-minute walk test is better for assessing endurance, while the incremental shuttle walk test induces higher perceived exertion and cardiovascular stress.