Table 3.
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in usual care and intervention groups of asthmatic patients at the beginning, middle and the end of the study
| Beginning | Middle | End | ||||
| PFTs | Usual care Gr. | Intervention Gr. | Usual care Gr. | Intervention Gr. | Usual care Gr. | Intervention Gr. |
| FVC | 57.71 ± 10.57 | 61.50 ± 11.77 NS |
65.88 ± 16.27 | 79.12 ± 7.35 *** |
59.71 ± 10.10 | 81.35 ± 10.16 *** |
| FEV1(l) | 56.88 ± 14.27 | 59.00 ± 9.57 NS |
61.46 ± 16.23 | 80.19 ± 10.93 *** |
55.29 ± 12.64 | 82.65 ± 10.50 *** |
| PEF(l/s) | 45.04 ± 13.71 | 51.92 ± 17.43 NS |
45.79 ± 12.05 | 66. 96 ± 13.21 *** |
42.75 ± 11.28 | 73.46 ± 12.04 *** |
| MMEF | 42.58 ± 17.04 | 45.61 ± 10.73 NS |
43.83 ± 17.11 | 76.88 ± 15.18 *** |
40.54 ± 14.05 | 81.12 ± 15.40 *** |
| MEF75(l/s) | 41.38 ± 15.77 | 52.04 ± 18.21 * |
44.17 ± 12.54 | 67.31 ± 14.75 *** |
40.83 ± 9.85 | 73.73 ± 13.92 *** |
| MEF50(l/s) | 44.13 ± 13.56 | 49.23 ± 16.23 NS |
44.42 ± 14.21 | 78.31 ± 17.31 *** |
40.75 ± 12.03 | 87.31 ± 18.26 *** |
| MEF25(l/s) | 49.92 ± 19.40 | 51.77 ± 15.37 NS |
48.17 ± 18.65 | 86.81 ± 25.28 *** |
42.63 ± 14.08 | 86.96 ± 22.23 *** |
Gr.: group, FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC: forced vital capacity; PEF: peak expiratory flow; MMEF: maximal mid expiratory flow; MEF75, MEF50 and MEF25: maximal expiratory flow at 75%, 50%, and 25% of the FVC respectively. All values of PFTs were quoted as mean ± SD of percentage predicted. Statistical difference in different parameter between usual care and intervention groups: NS; non significant difference, *; p < 0.05, **; p < 0.005, ***; p < 0.001.