Fig. 1.
Between-group and within-group data analysis
| Group data | Study group | Control group | p-value (among-groups) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMI [kg/m2] | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 26.35 ± 1.92 | 26.30 ± 1.75 | 0.932 |
| Post | 26.06 ± 2.09 | 26.46 ± 1.61 | 0.497 |
| p-value (within-group) | 0.180 | 0.442 | |
| FVC [L] | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 1.93 ± 0.53 | 1.92 ± 0.52 | 0.948 |
| Post | 2.10 ± 0.75 | 1.84 ± 0.537 | 0.224 |
| p-value (within-group) | 0.05 | 0.237 | |
| FEV1 [L] | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 1.08 ± 0.189 | 1.07 ± 0.173 | 0.911 |
| Post | 1.16 ± 0.265 | 1.03 ± 0.222 | 0.099 |
| p-value (within-group) | 0.07 | 0.056 | |
| Cortisol [ng/mL] | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 262.15 ± 25.08 | 262.40 ± 24.08 | 0.975 |
| Post | 219.80 ± 30.68 | 262.85 ± 23.43 | < 0.001* |
| p-value (within-group) | < 0.001* | 0.911 | |
| IL-8 [pg/ml] | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 15.00 ± 5.64 | 14.84 ± 6.08 | 0.932 |
| Post | 12.26 ± 5.07 | 15.75 ± 5.75 | 0.049* |
| p-value (within-group) | < 0.001* | 0.178 | |
| HADS depression | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 7.85 ± 2.56 | 7.35 ± 2.58 | 0.542 |
| Post | 5.36 ± 2.68 | 7.45 ± 2.43 | 0.014* |
| p-value (within-group) | < 0.001* | 0.799 | |
| HADS anxiety | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 8.75 ± 2.46 | 8.45 ± 2.32 | 0.695 |
| Post | 6.60 ± 2.70 | 8.60 ± 2.50 | 0.020* |
| p-value (within-group) | < 0.001* | 0.448 | |
| SGRQ total score | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 40.50 ± 11.70 | 45.40 ± 12.58 | 0.210 |
| Post | 35.90 ± 11.75 | 46.10 ± 12.63 | 0.012* |
| p-value (within-group) | < 0.001* | 0.273 | |
| 6MWT [m] | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Pre | 514.85 ± 22.49 | 513.90 ± 22.06 | 0.893 |
| Post | 575.90 ± 34.37 | 513.30 ± 21.09 | < 0.001* |
| p-value (within-group) | < 0.001* | 0.906 | |
Demographic and clinical data of groups
| Group data | Study group Mean ± SD | Control group Mean ± SD | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age [year] | 60.35 ± 4.35 | 59.35 ± 3.82 | 0.444 | |
| Weight [kg] | 77.54 ± 12.6 | 78.87 ± 13.8 | 0.752 | |
| Height [cm] | 168.27 ± 7.8 | 169.34 ± 7.5 | 0.660 | |
| BMI [kg/m2] | 26.35 ± 1.92 | 26.30 ± 1.75 | 0.932 | |
| FEV1 [% predicted] | 64.10 ± 9.71 | 63 ± 10 | 0.726 | |
| FEV1/FVC [%] | 63.07 ± 7.65 | 62 ± 6.95 | 0.646 | |
| Heart rate [beat/min] | 74.5 ± 12.9 | 75.3 ± 13 | 0.846 | |
| Saturated O2 [%] | 94 ± 2.2 | 95 ± 1.9 | 0.132 | |
| Systolic blood pressure [mmHg] | 125 ± 16.4 | 124.64 ± 15.32 | 0.943 | |
| Diastolic blood pressure [mmHg] | 79 ± 9.2 | 78 ± 8 | 0.715 | |
| Gold stage | Stage I | n = 3 | n = 4 | |
| Stage II | n =17 | n =16 | ||