Table 2.

High-intensity interval training group versus moderate-intensity continuous training group: baseline outcome variables

Variables	HIIT	MICT	p
Primary outcome
Functional capacity
6MWT walking distance (m)	509.0 ± 59.8	491.8 ± 79.7	0.654*
Secondary outcomes
Resting blood pressure and heart rate
Systolic BP (mmHg)	141.6 ± 10.1	145.5 ± 12.6	0.363*
Diastolic BP (mmHg)	79.1 ± 12.2	85.0 ± 9.3	0.248*
Heart rate (beats/min)	77.1 ± 13.6	85.3 ± 18.7	0.269*
Peripheral oxygen saturation
SpO2, %	95.1 ± 2.1	95.1 ± 0.8	0.978
Pulmonary function
FEV1, % pred	82.9 ± 9.2	77.0 ± 16.7	0.330*
FVC, % pred	83.4 ± 7.8	79.8 ± 10.8	0.388*
FEV1/FVC, %	79.1 ± 5.1	74.3 ± 11.3	0.228*
PEF, % pred	69.3 ± 16.2	69.7 ± 16.1	0.945*
Respiratory muscle strength
MIP, cmH2O % pred	92.4 ± 12.7	91.3 ± 16.0	0.892*
MEP, cmH2O % pred	63.5 ± 12.8	64.3 ± 12.5	0.842*
Dyspnea severity
mMRC score	0.5 (0.0, 1.0)	1.0 (0.5, 2.0)	0.201†
Body composition
BMI (kg/m2)	29.3 ± 5.2	29.4 ± 5.3	0.965*
Body fat %	29.1 ± 9.6	29.8 ± 7.3	0.883*
FFM (kg)	57.4 ± 7.7	57.68 ± 9.1	950*
Peripheral muscle strength
KES (kg)	10.5 ± 2.7	9.3 ± 2.5	0.850*
HGS (kg)	36.9 ± 7.4	33.9 ± 10.0	0.456*
Health-related quality of life
MacNew HRQoL
Physical	5.5 ± 1.0	5.6 ± 1.2	0.706*
Emotional	5.6 ± 0.9	5.5 ± 1.1	0.307*
Social	5.7 ± 1.1	5.2 ± 1.0	0.619*
Global	5.5 ± 0.6	5.5 ± 1.1	0.267*

Data are expressed as mean ± SD and median (interquartile range),

HIIT high-intensity interval training, MICT moderate-intensity continuous training, 6MWT 6-min walk test, BP blood pressure, FEV1 forced expiratory volume in 1 s, FVC forced vital capacity, PEF peak expiratory flow, MIP maximal inspiratory pressure, MEP maximal expiratory pressure, mMRC Modified Medical Research Council, BMI body mass index, FFM fat free muscle, KES knee extensor strength, HGS handgrip strength, HRQoL health-related quality of life

* independent Student’s t-tests,

† Mann–Whitney U tests,