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Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Author Spotlight: Integrating Alveolar-Capillary Reserve Measurements in Exercise Adaptation and Therapeutic Strategies
Published on: February 2, 2024
Test-retest reliability of lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide during light to moderate intensity cycling
Manuel Monteiro Alves1, Holger Dressel2, Thomas Radtke2
1Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Abstract:
This study examined test-retest reliability of single-breath lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and carbon monoxide (DLCO) during exercise. Sixteen healthy subjects (age 20-67 years) performed DLNO-DLCO tests during light and moderate intensity cycling exercise at 50% and 80% of individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). Primary endpoint was DLNO at 80% IAT. Precision of DLNO, DLCO, and alveolar volume was quantified by within-subject standard deviation (SDws, measurement error) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Reproducibility was determined by SDws* 2.77. Overall, reliability was excellent for all outcomes. SDws and reproducibility for DLNO at 80% IAT were 4.6 and 12.7 mL.min-1.mmHg-1, and the ICC was 0.99 (95% confidence interval 0.98-0.99). Median breathlessness at 80% IAT was 4 (interquartile range 3-6) on a 0-10 scale. Our data suggest excellent reliability of single-breath DLNO during moderate intensity exercise, but perceived levels of breathlessness may limit its usefulness, especially at exercise intensities beyond IAT.
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