Subject Characteristics and Baseline Measures
Table 1 shows the characteristics of the 34 subjects (exercise
group: n = 19 and control group: n = 15) who completed
the intervention period. There were no significant
differences between the groups in any of the variables examined.
Five subjects, all ex-smokers, had undergone a
recent high-resolution computed tomography scan that
excluded emphysema. The remaining 6 ex-smokers had a
median pack year history of 4 (range 0.5–13). Lung function
data demonstrated moderate airflow limitation
(mean FEV 1 60% of predicted) with evidence of lung hyperinflation
and gas trapping ( table 1 ).