Table 4

 Mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of blood gases and lung function between T6 and baseline, T12 and T6

Difference T6 − baselineDifference T12 − T6
Mean (95% CI)WilcoxonMean (95% CI)Wilcoxon
Po 2(kPa)2.3 (1.8 to  2.7) 4-165  −0.2  (−0.4 to  0.1)NS  
Pco 2(kPa)−1.5 (−1.9 to  −1.2) 4-165  −0.2 (−0.4 to  0.0) 4-150  
pH0.03  (0.01 to  0.05) 4-160  −0.01 (−0.02  to  0.02)NS4-159
HCO3 – (mmol/l)−5.1 (−8.2 to  −1.9) 4-160 4-159 −1.0 (−2.6 to  0.5)NS  
VC (l)0.09 (0.03 to  0.12) 4-160 4-159 0.01 (−0.02  to  0.05)NS4-159
VC (% pred)3.3 (1.3 to  5.3) 4-150  −0.5 (−2.8 to  1.7)NS4-159
FEV1 (l)0.02 (−0.04  to  0.08)NS  0.03 (−0.03  to  0.10)NS  
FEV1 (% pred)−4.4 (−8.0 to  −0.8)NS4-159 3.9 (−0.2 to  8.0) 4-150  
TLC (l)0.15 (−0.07 to  0.40)NS  0.05 (−0.15  to  0.24)NS  
TLC (% pred)4.1 (−1.2 to  9.4)NS  −1.2 (−7.7 to  5.3)NS  

  • NS = not significant;

  • ↵4-150 p<0.05;

  • ↵4-160 p<0.01;

  • ↵4-165 p<0.001;

  • ↵4-159 null hypothesis of normality rejected on a level of 0.10.

  • For definition of abbreviations see table 3.