Changes in exercise-related outcomes
| Variables | Intervention group | Control group | Adjusted difference (95% CI) at post training | P values* | ||
| Pre training | Post training | Pre training | Post training | |||
| Functional exercise capacity | ||||||
| 6MWD (m) | 353 (116) | 388 (113)† | 374 (102) | 407 (105)† | 0.3 (–13 to 14) | 0.967 |
| Dyspnoea post 6MWD | 5.4 (2.2) | 5.7 (2.3) | 5.5 (2.2) | 5.4 (2.1) | 0.2 (–0.3 to 0.8) | 0.400 |
| Leg effort post 6MWD | 4.2 (2.3) | 4.3 (2.0) | 4.3 (2.4) | 4.4 (2.0) | −0.1 (–0.7 to 0.4) | 0.630 |
| Maximal exercise capacity | ||||||
| Peak work rate (W) | 54 (21) | 64 (26)† | 54 (20) | 59 (22)† | 5.2 (–0.4 to 10.8) | 0.069 |
| Peak VO2 (mL/min) | 1009 (310) | 1048 (313) | 909 (275) | 966 (323) | 0.01 (–0.09 to 0.11) | 0.881 |
| Peak VE (L/min) | 36 (11) | 37 (11) | 38 (12) | 39 (15) | −0.5 (–3.4 to 2.3) | 0.703 |
| Dyspnoea post CPET | 6.7 (2.6) | 6.3 (2.7) | 5.9 (2.3) | 6.4 (2.1) | −0.5 (–1.4 to 0.5) | 0.324 |
| Leg effort post CPET | 5.8 (2.9) | 6.0 (2.4) | 5.9 (2.2) | 6.1 (2.1) | −0.1 (–1.0 to 0.8) | 0.836 |
| Endurance exercise capacity | ||||||
| Work rate (W) | 42 (16) | 44 (18) | ||||
| Endurance cycle time (s) | 271 (126) | 496 (309)† | 303 (163) | 466 (292)† | 75 (1 to 149) | 0.048 |
| Dyspnoea post cycle test | 6.1 (2.2) | 6.0 (2.1) | 6.1 (2.2) | 5.9 (2.3) | −0.3 (–1.0 to 0.4) | 0.405 |
| Leg effort post cycle test | 6.0 (1.9) | 5.2 (2.1)† | 5.5 (2.3) | 5.5 (2.3) | −0.4 (–1.2 to 0.3) | 0.216 |
| Dyspnoea score at isotime | 6.1 (2.2) | 3.7 (1.3)† | 5.9 (2.0) | 4.4 (1.9)† | −0.7 (–1.5 to −0.01) | 0.049 |
| Leg effort score at isotime | 6.1 (1.9) | 4.2 (1.7)† | 4.9 (2.3) | 4.5 (2.2) | −0.9 (–1.7 to 0.01) | 0.052 |
Data are presented as mean (SD) and mean (95% CI). Dyspnoea and leg effort scores were evaluated with the modified CR-10 Borg scale. Analyses are based on 169 (6MWD, 97% of completers), 92 (peak work rate, 53% of completers) and 139 (endurance cycle time, 80% of completers) patients.
*P values are reported for between-group comparisons (analysis of covariance of post-training values adjusted for baseline values as covariates).
†A statistically significant difference within groups (p<0.05),
6MWD, 6 min walking distance; CPET, cardiopulmonary exercise test; peak VE, peak pulmonary ventilation; peak VO2, peak oxygen uptake; peak work rate, peak power output.