Table 1.
Characteristics of participants in each group, and of participants who died during the observation period
| Variable | Regular-intensity rehabilitation (n=15) |
High-intensity rehabilitation
|
Group difference (regular vs high-intensity) mean (95% CI); P-value* |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All participants (n=16) |
Of which died (n=5) |
|||
| Female sex, n (%) | 10 (67) | 9 (56) | 3 (60) | P=0.55** |
| Age, years | 69.7 (8.7) | 68.6 (8.7) | 73.6 (7.3) | 1.1 (−5.4 to 7.7); P=0.73 |
| Height, cm | 170.4 (8.3) | 168.3 (9.6) | 163.8 (6.7) | 2.2 (−4.4 to 8.8); P=0.51 |
| Body mass, kg | 67.3 (15.5) | 67.5 (19.6) | 55.0 (12.7) | 0.2 (−13.2 to 12.8); P=0.97 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 23.2 (5.1) | 23.8 (6.3) | 20.5 (4.6) | −0.6 (−4.8 to 3.6); P=0.78 |
| Smoking status | P=0.55** | |||
| Current smoker (%) | 6 (40) | 6 (38) | 1 (20) | |
| Former smoker (%) | 8 (53) | 10 (62) | 4 (80) | |
| Never smoked (%) | 1 (7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Cigarette package years | 38.7 (17.9) | 63.4 (39.7) | 54.2 (28.8) | −24.6 (−47.4 to −1.9); P=0.035 |
| FEV1 | 0.88 (0.30) | 0.94 (0.40) | 0.80 (0.29) | −0.06 (−0.31 to 0.19); P=0.63 |
| FEV1 % predicted | 35.4 (11.4) | 36.2 (9.2) | 34.6 (8.8) | −0.74 (−8.37 to 6.90); P=0.84 |
| Estimated VO2 max, mL/min/kg | 8.78 (3.06) | 8.95 (3.45) | 7.62 (1.51) | −0.17 (−2.65 to 2.31); P=0.89 |
| Oxygen sat, at rest | 94.6 (1.8) | 94.5 (2.1) | 94.3 (2.1) | 0.10 (−1.40 to 1.60); P=0.89 |
| Oxygen supplement, yes (%) | 0 (0) | 2 (13) | 1 (20) | P=0.16** |
| CAT | 19.8 (7.7) | 20.6 (6.0) | 19.0 (4.8) | −0.8 (−6.1 to 4.4); P=0.74 |
| Number of previous exacerbations, median (first; third quartile) | 2 (0; 3) | 1 (0.25; 4) | 1 (0; 7.5) | P=0.14** |
| MRC | P=0.82** | |||
| 3, n (%) | 5 (33) | 5 (31) | 1 (20) | |
| 4, n (%) | 4 (27) | 3 (19) | 0 (0) | |
| 5, n (%) | 6 (40) | 8 (50) | 4 (80) | |
| COPD stage (GOLD) | P=0.87** | |||
| 2, n (%) | 1 (7) | 1 (6) | 0 (0) | |
| 3, n (%) | 8 (53) | 10 (63) | 3 (60) | |
| 4, n (%) | 6 (40) | 5 (31) | 2 (40) | |
| Comorbid cardiovascular disease, n (%) | 3 (20) | 8 (50) | 3 (60) | P=0.11** |
| Comorbid diabetes, n (%) | 2 (13) | 3 (19) | 1 (20) | P=0.68** |
| Number of hospitalizations from rehabilitation end +18 months | 1.20 (1.37) | 1.62 (2.75) | 2.20 (3.90) | −0.4 (−2.0 to 1.2); P=0.59 |
Notes: Data are mean (SD) unless otherwise stated.
*
Based on t-test.
**
Based on chi-square.
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CAT, COPD assessment test; CI, confidence interval; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; MRC, Medical Research Council; SD, standard deviation.