Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the patients stratified by randomisation arm
| Variables | All patients | Training | Control | P value |
| n (%) | 26 (100) | 13 (50) | 13 (50) | |
| Demographic and medical history | ||||
| Age, years | 50.4±12.2 | 49.9±11.6 | 50.8±13.2 | 0.664 |
| Women, n (%) | 11 (42) | 7 (54) | 4 (31) | 0.234 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 29 (26–32) | 29 (26–32) | 30 (27–32) | 0.643 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 3 (12) | 1 (8) | 2 (15) | 0.536 |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 1 (4) | 1 (8) | 0 (0) | 0.232 |
| Prior smoker, n (%) | 8 (31) | 4 (31) | 4 (31) | 1 |
| Length of hospital stay, days | 8 (5-15) | 6 (5-15) | 8 (7-11) | 0.877 |
| Received steroids, n (%) | 25 (96) | 12 (92) | 13 (100) | 0.232 |
| Time to the first CPET from discharge, days | 362±105 | 385±97 | 340±105 | 0.638 |
| Vital signs | ||||
| Heart rate at rest, bpm | 77±11 | 78±12 | 77±10 | 0.443 |
| Systolic blood pressure at rest, mm Hg | 117±12 | 116±10 | 118±13 | 0.357 |
| Diastolic blood pressure at rest, mm Hg | 61±5 | 63±5 | 60±6 | 0.434 |
| Laboratory values, echocardiography parameters and pulmonary function test | ||||
| Haemoglobin, g/dL | 14.6±1.1 | 14.6±1.4 | 14.5±0.9 | 0.801 |
| CRP, mg/L | 1.6 (0.8–3.2) | 1.8 (0.8–3) | 1.4 (0.8–3.2) | 0.939 |
| NT-proBNP, pg/mL | 28 (14–43) | 30 (18–36) | 26 (11–50) | 0.939 |
| LVEF, % | 65.6±6.1 | 65.2±5.8 | 66.1±6.6 | 0.680 |
| PASP, mm Hg* | 27.7±4.7 | 26.8±5.9 | 28.7±2.9 | 0.105 |
| DLCO, % | 72.5±13.3 | 72.8±13.2 | 72.1±13.9 | 0.868 |
| MIP, cmH2O | 83 (62–105) | 80 (66–101) | 86 (60–110) | 0.858 |
| CPET variables | ||||
| Workload, W | 119.5±36 | 122±34.2 | 117.1±39 | 0.659 |
| Exercise time, s | 684.8±218.7 | 669.5±237.3 | 700±207 | 0.644 |
| Peak heart rate, bpm | 139±20 | 144±20 | 135±20 | 1 |
| Chronotropic index† | 0.64±0.19 | 0.72±0.19 | 0.64±0.18 | 0.855 |
| Peak systolic blood pressure, mm Hg | 157±20 | 158±20 | 155±20 | 0.918 |
| RER | 1.12 (1.1–1.16) | 1.12 (1.1–1.16) | 1.1 (1.1–1.15) | 0.708 |
| PeakVO2, mL/kg/min | 18.9±5 | 18.8±5.8 | 18.9±4.4 | 0.323 |
| pp-peakVO2, % | 74.9±15 | 76.9±17 | 72.9±14 | 0.494 |
| VE/VCO2 slope | 29.4±5.2 | 28.2±4.6 | 30.5±5.6 | 0.480 |
| Health-related QOL: EQ-5D-3L questionnaire | ||||
| Mobility dimension | 1 (1–1) | 1 (1–1) | 1 (1–1) | 0.149 |
| Self-care dimension | 1 (1–1) | 1 (1–1) | 1 (1–1) | 1 |
| Usual activities dimension | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–1) | 0.193 |
| Pain/discomfort dimension | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 1 |
| Anxiety/depression dimension | 1 (1–2) | 2 (1–2) | 1 (1–1) | 0.098 |
| Visual analogue scale | 70 (60–80) | 70 (50–80) | 79 (70–87) | 0.073 |
Continuous variables are presented as median (IQR), and categorical variables are as percentages.
*Data available in 15 patients (eight in the training arm and seven in the control arm).
†Cronotropic index formula=peak HR-rest HR/ [(220-age)-restHR)].
BMI, body mass index; CPET, cardiopulmonary exercise testing; CRP, C reactive protein; DLCO, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide; LVEF, left ventricle ejection fraction; MIP, maximal inspiratory pressure; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide; PASP, pulmonary artery systolic pressure; peakVO2, peak oxygen consumption; pp-peakVO2, percent of predicted peak oxygen consumption, RER, respiratory exchange ratio; QoL, quality of life; VE/VCO2 slope, ventilatory efficiency.