Outcome Measures
The primary end point used to evaluate subjects’ health
status was the BODE index. Briefly, pulmonary function was assessed based on the standards set forth by the American horacic Society. Dyspnea was measured according to the Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea scale, in which higher scores indicate more severe dyspnea. The 6-min walk test (6MWT) was carried out according to American Thoracic Society guidelines. Each of these BODE variables was assigned a specific index value, and from these, the total score was calculated, ranging from 0 to 10 points, with a higher score indicating greater severity.