Table 3

Within-group and between-group comparison for induced sputum cellularity, FeNO, clinical control, health-related quality of life, aerobic capacity and pulmonary function of patients with asthma

Control group (n=21)Training group (n=22)Treatment effect
OutcomesBeforeMean (95% CI) within-group differencep Value timeBeforeMean (95% CI) within-group differencep Value timeMean (95% CI) between-group differencep Value treatment
Clinical Control
 Asthma symptom-free days15.3 (11.0)−2.5 (6.2 to 1.2)0.18012.0 (11.2)−4.3 (−8.4 to −0.2)0.0420.1 (−7.2 to 7.3)0.987
 ACQ-71.6 (0.9)0.1 (−2.1 to 0.5)0.3951.4 (1.2)0.2 (−0.2 to 0.5)0.2670.2 (−0.3 to 0.7)0.457
 ACQ-61.5 (1.0)0.1 (−2.8 to 0.6)0.5021.2 (1.2)0.2 (−0.2 to −0.6)0.2360.3 (0.3 to 0.8)0.327
AQLQ
 Overall4.2 (1.1)−0.3 (−0.8 to 0.2)0.2594.6 (1.4)−0.7 (−1.9 to 0.2)0.005−0.9 (−1.7 to −0.1)0.034
 Activity limitation domain3.8 (0.9)−0.2 (−0.8 to 0.4)0.4334.3 (1.3)−0.8 (−1.2 to −0.3)0.002−1.1 (−1.8 to −0.3)0.009
 Symptoms domain4.8 (1.5)−0.2 (−0.9 to 0.4)0.4695.1 (1.5)−0.6 (−1.1 to 0.0)0.053−0.7 (−1.5 to 0.1)0.091
 Emotional function domain4.1 (1.9)−0.6 (−1.6 to 0.4)0.2504.6 (1.8)−1.0 (−1.6 to −0.3)0.005−0.9 (−2.0 to 0.1)0.084
 Environmental stimuli domain3.7 (1.8)−0.5 (−1.5 to 0.6)0.3594.5 (2.0)−0.6 (−1.3 to 0.2)0.118−0.9 (−2.0 to 0.3)0.140
Induced sputum
 Total cell (106/mL) median (25th–75th)0.9 (0.1–1.4)−0.8 (−1.5 to 0.2)0.0550.8 (0.4 to 1.6)0.2 (−0.44 to 0.77)0.5830.6 (−0.6 to 1.7)0.333
 Eosinophils (%) median (25th–75th)6.1 (0.25–14.9)−7.9 (−17.7 to 1.8)0.10610.1 (1.6 to 21.9)−0.6 (−8.8 to 7.6)0.881−8.8 (−2.0 to 0.3)0.648
 Neutrophils (%) median (25th–75th)33.8 (22.1–66.2)3.4 (−6.9 to 13.7)0.50037.4 (16.7 to 57.5)1.6 (−12.6 to 15.7)0.8211.7 (−13.1 to 16.6)0.816
 Lymphocytes (%) median (25th–75th)0.0 (0.0–0.1)0.9 (−2.7 to 4.4)0.6200.0 (0.0 to 0.8)−1.2 (−2.9 to 0.4)0.137−1.0 (−2.8 to 0.7)0.251
 Macrophages (%) median (25th–75th)40.5 (11.1–73.1)1.4 (−9.8 to 12.5)0.79943.4 (25.7 to 65.2)−0.9 (−16.1 to 14.4)0.907−6.7 (−22.7 to 9.2)0.248
 FeNO (ppb) median (25th–75th)26.7 (22.5–38.9)−5.9 (−5,8 to 4.6)0.81532.0 (21.1 to 44.8)4.5 (−0.7 to 9.7)0.0874.4 (−5.9 to 14.7)0.397
Exercise capacity
 Aerobic capacity (VO2max mL/kg/min)25.5 (5.9)2.4 (−0.2 to 4.5)0.05327.0 (4.2)−1.0 (−2.4 to 0.5)0.182−4.8 (−8.9 to −0.8)0.019
 Maximal workload (watts)202.8 (67.3)−3.3 (−25.4 to 18.9)0.762190.3 (32.3)−57.1 (−73.1 to −41.1)<0.001−44.1 (−83.4 to −4.8)0.029
Pulmonary function
 FEV1, (L)2.00 (0.7)−0.1 (−0.2 to 0.1)0.4712.1 (0.76)0.00 (−0.1 to 0.1)0.952−0.0 (−0.5 to 0.4)0.930
 FEV1 % predicted66.3 (19.0)−2.3 (−8.6 to 3.9)0.44769.0 (21.0)−1.1 (−4.8 to 2.6)0.5462.5 (−11.5 to 16.5)0.721
  • Data are means (SDs) unless otherwise stated.

  • ACQ, Asthma Control Questionnaire; AQLQ, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide.