UNW | Oral expectorant | Comparison of the difference between the two treatments | ||||||||||
Pre-therapy | After 3 months of treatment | t-value | p-value | Pre-therapy | After 3 months of treatment | t-value | p-value | UNW | Oral expectorant | F-value | p-value | |
FVC L | 2.29±0.92 | 2.34±0.97 | −0.756 | 0.457 | 2.36±0.98 | 2.34±0.90 | −0.756 | 0.457 | 0.05±0.22 | −0.04±0.25 | 1.739 | 0.193 |
FEV1 L | 1.63±0.66 | 1.70±0.64 | 1.441 | 0.162 | 1.64±0.67 | 1.62±0.63 | −1.223 | 0.233 | 0.07±0.29 | −0.04±0.15 | 3.251 | 0.077 |
FEV1 % predicted | 58.58±20.95 | 59.92±19.24 | 1.360 | 0.186 | 58.96±19.40 | 58.73±20.21 | −0.632 | 0.533 | 1.34±5.95 | −0.62±4.96 | 2.063 | 0.157 |
FEV1/FVC % | 71.45±12.17 | 72.20±13.94 | 0.650 | 0.522 | 69.33±15.76 | 70.21±11.66 | 0.383 | 0.705 | 0.74±7.00 | 0.97±12.90 | 1.701 | 0.198 |
Inspiratory capacity L | 1.57±0.61 | 1.71±0.65 | −0.352 | 0.058 | 1.67±0.70 | 1.68±0.60 | −0.352 | 0.728 | 0.14±0.20 | −0.02±0.27 | 5.399 | 0.024 |
PEF L·s−1 | 4.11±1.48 | 4.35±1.75 | 1.991 | 0.728 | 4.29±1.74 | 4.40±1.61 | 0.181 | 0.858 | 0.24±0.71 | 0.03±0.97 | 1.165 | 0.285 |
Sputum volume mL·24 h−1 | 45.19±37.62 | 38.41±66.36 | −0.858 | 0.399 | 43.52±45.47 | 45.70±41.23 | 0.420 | 0.678 | −6.78±41.04 | 2.19±27.01 | 0.792 | 0.378 |
Sputum viscosity | 2.44±0.93 | 3.11±0.85 | −3.029 | 0.005 | 2.30±0.87 | 2.74±0.81 | −2.199 | 0.037 | 0.67±1.14 | 0.44±1.05 | 3.021 | 0.086 |
Purulent score | 6.04±0.98 | 4.87±1.25 | −5.691 | 0.001 | 5.46±1.38 | 5.63±1.18 | 0.774 | 0.446 | −1.17±1.07 | 0.17±1.12 | 19.989 | 0.001 |
LCQ score | ||||||||||||
Physical | 4.40±1.16 | 5.04±1.10 | 3.119 | 0.004 | 4.43±1.14 | 4.60±1.10 | 0.660 | 0.515 | 0.65±1.08 | 0.17±1.34 | 2.736 | 0.104 |
Psychological | 3.48±1.23 | 4.59±1.25 | 5.640 | 0.001 | 3.86±1.10 | 3.85±1.19 | −0.031 | 0.975 | 1.11±1.03 | −0.01±1.28 | 16.146 | 0.001 |
Social | 4.05±1.35 | 4.81±1.38 | 3.310 | 0.003 | 4.39±1.17 | 4.13±1.37 | −1.050 | 0.303 | 0.77±1.21 | −0.26±1.27 | 9.855 | 0.003 |
Total score | 11.94±3.45 | 14.45±3.57 | 4.428 | 0.001 | 12.71±2.98 | 12.60±3.49 | −0.170 | 0.866 | 2.51±2.94 | −0.11±3.38 | 11.386 | 0.001 |
6MWD | 503.63±105.67 | 529.48±115.67 | 3.468 | 0.002 | 521.74±110.87 | 497.44±141.21 | −1.604 | 0.121 | 25.85±38.73 | −24.30±78.73 | 9.618 | 0.003 |
Sputum cell classification | ||||||||||||
Neutrophils % | 96.22±3.64 | 95.99±5.45 | −0.238 | 0.814 | 94.98±8.28 | 97.02±2.19 | 1.323 | 0.198 | −0.23±4.94 | 2.03±7.84 | 1.458 | 0.233 |
Macrophages % | 1.61±3.00 | 1.19±1.72 | −0.865 | 0.395 | 2.54±7.50 | 1.03±1.37 | −0.993 | 0.330 | −0.42±2.46 | −1.52±7.78 | 0.411 | 0.524 |
Eosinophils % | 0.80±1.19 | 1.53±3.90 | 1.230 | 0.230 | 0.81±1.19 | 0.86±1.16 | 0.337 | 0.739 | 0.73±3.02 | 0.05±0.73 | 1.206 | 0.277 |
Lymphocytes % | 1.37±2.26 | 1.29±1.43 | −0.180 | 0.858 | 1.63±1.62 | 1.10±2.13 | −1.177 | 0.250 | −0.08±2.39 | −0.53±2.29 | 0.494 | 0.485 |
TNF-α ×103 pg·mL−1 (n=17) | 1.45±1.09 | 1.26±1.37 | 0.426 | 0.676 | 1.81±2.15 | 1.43±0.91 | 0.751 | 0.463 | −0.19±1.81 | −0.39±2.11 | 0.289 | 0.598 |
IL-8 ×103 pg·mL−1 (n=16) | 273.25±158.15 | 278.21±440.75 | −0.042 | 0.967 | 444.02±515.37 | 289.16±157.51 | 1.426 | 0.174 | 4.95±473.71 | −154.86±434.31 | 1.532 | 0.236 |
IL-6 ×103 pg·mL−1 (n=12) | 0.87±0.90 | 0.60±0.70 | 1.059 | 0.312 | 0.57±0.88 | 0.47±0.55 | 0.394 | 0.701 | −0.28±0.91 | −0.10±0.87 | 0.306 | 0.592 |
Data are presented as mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. UNW: 0.9% normal saline inhaled by ultrasonic nebuliser with warming; FVC: forced vital capacity; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; PEF: peak expiratory flow; LCQ: Leicester cough questionnaire; 6MWD: 6-min walk distance; TNF: tumour necrosis factor; IL: interleukin.