The distribution of mean values for age and BMI in the
two groups did not show any statistically significant
difference (Table 1). Male to female ratios in the
intervention and control groups were 11: 4 and 13: 2,
respectively. The severity of COPD based on staging in
the intervention and control groups were: Stage II –
5/6; stage III – 7/4 and stage IV – 3/5, respectively.
Baseline values of spirometry, arterial oxygen tension
(PaO2
), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2
) and
bicarbonate in the two groups were similar; baseline
values of arterial blood pH were statistically
significantly higher in the control group than the
intervention group patients