TABLE 1

Baseline data and cardiopulmonary response to stair climbing

Controls#Patientsp-value
Males/females3/105/60.25
Age, years49±8.054±9.90.19
BMI, kg·m−226±5.229±3.00.047*
Nijmegen questionnaire+3.5±4.723±9.8<0.01**
Dyspnoea-12 questionnaire§0.0±015.7±8.6<0.01**
FEV1, % predicted99.4±16109±100.23
FVC, % predicted101±18115±120.04*
Rest measurements
 VE, L·min−111±4.112±4.90.36
 BF, breaths per min17±3.322±5.00.01*
 VʹO2, mL·min−1·kg−14.5±1.23.8±0.70.91
 VT, L·min−10.69±0.20.59±0.10.09
 HR, beats per min78±1478±9.50.73
 PETCO2, kPa4.4±0.34.0±0.4<0.01**
 RER0.92±0.10.88±0.20.15
 Dyspnoeaƒ0.0 (0.0)0.5 (1.0)0.02*
 RPEƒ0.0 (0.0)1.0 (1.0)0.02*
End-stair climb measurements
 VE, L·min−124±8.636±9.0<0.01**
 VE, % maximum22±5.931±9.70.02*
 BF, per min21±4.131±11<0.01**
  VʹO2, mL·min−1·kg−113±2.614±3.00.57
 BF change, breaths per min4±4.210±8.60.21
 VT, L·min−11.3±0.41.3±0.40.87
 HR, beats per min121±19116±170.65
 Dyspnoeaƒ0.5 (0.5)4.0 (2.0)0.00**
 RPEƒ1.0 (1.5)3.0 (4.0)0.00**
 Stair-climb time, s35.6±9.048.3±210.04*

Data are presented as mean±sd or median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. BMI: body mass index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; VE: exhaled volume per breath; BF: breathing frequency; VʹO2: oxygen consumption; VT: tidal volume; HR: heart rate; PETCO2: end-tidal carbon dioxide tension; RER: respiratory exchange ratio; RPE: Rate of Perceived Exertion. #: N=13; : N=11; +: out of 64; §: out of 24; ƒ: Borg Dyspnoea Scale. *: p<0.05; **: p<0.01.