Table 3.
Comparison of absolute changes in sputum properties, pulmonary diffusing capacity and oxygen saturation between experiments A and B (N = 15)
| Experiment A | Experiment B | P-values | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variables | Absolute change pre- versus post-exercise | Absolute change pre- versus 45 min post-exercise | Absolute change pre- versus post-exercise | Absolute change pre- versus 45 min post exercise | Pre- versus post- exercise between A & B | Pre- versus 45 min post- exercise between A & B |
| Sputum properties | ||||||
| G’ 1 rad s− 1 (Pa) | 1.98 (0.1, 9.9) | − 0.27 (− 3.3, 6.8) | 0.87 (− 2.8, 4.8) | 3.21 (0.1, 7.2) | 0.237 | 0.290 |
| G’ 10 rad s− 1 (Pa) | 2.54 (1.1, 14.2) | 11.35 (−1.0, 16.5) | 1.22 (− 3.9, 8.2) | 2.90 (− 0.4, 15.1) | 0.290 | 0.725 |
| G” 1 rad s− 1 (Pa) | 0.82 (− 1.2, 3.1) | 2.40 (− 0.1, 4.1) | 0.46 (− 0.2, 1.63) | 1.64 (− 0.2, 3.3) | 0.595 | 0.567 |
| G” 10 rad s− 1 (Pa) | 0.85 (− 0.3, 2.7) | 2.52 (− 0.1, 4.0) | 0.61 (− 0.6, 1.6) | 1.82 (− 0.2, 3.6) | 0.468 | 0.576 |
| Dynamic yield stress (Pa) | 0.07 (0.0, 0.3) | 0.20 (0.0, 0.3) | 0.01 (−0.1, 0.1) | 0.10 (0.0, 0.2) | 0.217 | 0.713 |
| Sputum solids content (%) | 0.25 (−0.1, 3.5) | 0.86 (0.4, 1.9) | 1.11 (−1.2, 3.4) | 0.94 (− 1.6, 3.6) | 0.967 | 0.653 |
| Spinnability (mm) | 1.00 (−0.2, 11.0) | −1.40 (− 14.3, 0.4) | −1.25 (− 3.9, 0.7) | 1.20 (− 1.1, 5.7) | 0.077 | 0.009 |
| Ease of sputum expectoration (cm) | 0.50 (− 0.2, 1.7) | 0.80 (− 0.1, 1.2) | −0.20 (− 1.6, 1.3) | − 1.1 (− 1.8, 0.1) | 0.276 | 0.016 |
| Pulmonary diffusing capacity | ||||||
| DLNO (mL min− 1 mmHg− 1) | 4.23 (− 0.9, 8.8) | −0.90 (− 2.8, 1.4) | 1.40 (− 5.7, 5.1) | −2.86 (− 7.2, 5.0) | 0.152 | 1.000 |
| DLNO/VA (mL min− 1 mmHg− 1 L− 1) | −0.17 (− 0.6, 0.2) | − 1.04 (− 1.5, − 0.6) | −0.18 (− 0.9, 0.3) | −1.16 (− 1.8, − 0.1) | 0.934 | 0.967 |
| DLCO (mL min− 1.mmHg− 1) | 2.16 (0.8, 4.5) | −0.12 (− 0.8, 0.6) | 1.87 (0.1, 2.3) | −0.76 (− 2.1, 0.9) | 0.110 | 0.351 |
| DLCO/VA (mL min− 1 mmHg− 1 L− 1) | 0.28 (0.1, 0.5) | −0.09 (− 0.2, 0.1) | 0.21 (0.0, 0.4) | −0.22 (− 0.3, − 0.1) | 0.468 | 0.271 |
| DLNO/DLCO ratio | − 0.16 (− 0.3, − 0.1) | −0.01 (− 0.2, 0.1) | −0.17 (− 0.4, 0.1) | −0.13 (− 0.2, − 0.0) | 0.771 | 0.533 |
| DMCO (mL min− 1 mmHg− 1) | 1.0 (− 3.0, 3.0) | 1.0 (− 5.0, 2.0) | 0.0 (− 9.0, 3.0) | 2.0 (− 7.0, 5.0) | 0.632 | 0.519 |
| VA (L) | 0.26 (0.0, 0.4) | 0.04 (− 0.0, 0.2) | 0.06 (− 0.1, 0.3) | 0.03 (− 0.2, 0.2) | 0.032 | 0.693 |
| Vcap (mL) | 12.0 (9.0, 17.0) | 0.0 (−3.0, 3.0) | 12.0 (1.0, 15.0) | −5.0 (− 11.0, 4.0) | 0.135 | 0.114 |
| Oxygen saturation | ||||||
| SpO2 (%) | 0.0 (− 1.5, 1.0) | 0.0 (−0.8, 0.5) | 0.0 (− 1.0, 0.0) | 0.3 (− 0.1, 1.0) | 0.983 | 0.378 |
Data are displayed as median (interquartile range, IQR). DLCO, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; DLNO, diffusing capacity of the lung for nitric oxide; DMCO, alveolar-capillary membrane diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; G’, storage modulus; G”, loss modulus; SpO2, oxygen saturation; VA, alveolar volume; Vcap, pulmonary capillary blood volume. Pulmonary gas diffusion variables were measured in SI units (mmol min− 1 kPa− 1) and converted to traditional units (mL min− 1 mmHg− 1) by multiplying with 2.987. Differences in outcome variables at different time points (pre-exercise versus post-exercise and pre-exercise versus 45′ post-exercise) between the two experimental conditions were analyzed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney-U test