Effects of treatment on symptoms and lung function
| AD | oPEP | p-value | |
| Subjects n | 25 | 24 | |
| Change in sputum purulence# n (%) | >0.99 | ||
| Improved | 4 (20) | 5 (23) | |
| Unchanged | 13 (65) | 13 (59) | |
| Worsened | 3 (15) | 4 (18) | |
| Change in sputum quantity n (%) | 0.044 | ||
| Less sputum | 6 (24) | 12 (52) | |
| More sputum | 19 (76) | 11 (48) | |
| Change in sputum quantity (mL); median (range) randomisation to end of study | 17.5 (5–42.5) to 15 (5–45) | 15 (5–25) to 5 (5–20) | 0.386 |
| LCI change after 4 weeks¶ n (%) | 0.847 | ||
| Improved | 8 (32) | 6 (25) | |
| Unchanged | 7 (28) | 8 (33) | |
| Worsened | 10 (40) | 10 (42) | |
| FEV1 % change after 4 weeks, median (range) | 0.05 (−23–7.6) | 0 (−11.8–10.5) | 0.71 |
AD: autogenic drainage; oPEP: oscillating positive expiratory pressure; LCI: lung clearance index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s. #: sputum purulence was recorded on a four-point scale. Values in bold represent p<0.05. ¶: improvement, a decrease of 0.5 or more; worsening, an increase of 0.5 or more; unchanged, difference <0.5 in any direction.