Effect of repeated Waon therapy on exercise tolerance and pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot controlled clinical trial

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline demographics of the study groups

	Waon (n=10)	Control (n=10)
Male/female	9/1	9/1
Age, years	70.3 ± 5.8	73.6 ± 6.1
Smoking status
Former	10	10
Current	0	0
Pack years	56 (27–94)	57 (34–103)
FEV1, % pred	54.1 ± 14.7	63.2 ± 26.6
Resting SpO2, %	95.6 ± 1.8	95.9 ± 0.7
Height	162.4 ± 5.0	160.4 ± 4.6
BMI, kg/m^2	22.3 ± 2.4	23.0 ± 2.4
Medication use
long-acting anticholinergics	8	6
long-acting β2 agonist	9	8
Xanthine derivatives	7	7
Lung physical therapy	10	10

Note: Data are absolute numbers, presented as means ± SD or median (25th−75th percentile).

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; SpO₂, oxygen saturation; BMI, body mass index.

Table 2 Changes in the 6-minute walk test, at baseline and after 4 weeks

	Waon (n=10)	Control (n=10)
Maximum Borg scale
At baseline	3.0 (1.6–7.0)	3.5 (1.8–5.5)
After 4 weeks	2.0 (0.37–5.0)	2.5 (0.9–7.0)
Walk distance (m)
At baseline	287 ± 131	291 ± 114
After 4 weeks	333 ± 106	310 ± 110
Minimum SpO2 (%)
At baseline	88 ± 5	85 ± 4
After 4 weeks	89 ± 5	87 ± 5
Maximum heart rate (beats/min)
At baseline	112 ± 20	101 ± 15
After 4 weeks	109 ± 26	107 ± 15

Note: Data are presented as means ± SD or median (25th−75th percentile).

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; SpO₂, oxygen saturation.

Table 3 Change in ventilatory parameters, at baseline and after 4 weeks

	Waon (n=10)	Control (n=10)
PEF (L/s)
At baseline	3.08 ± 0.999	3.85 ± 1.543
After 4 weeks	3.56 ± 1.478	3.73 ± 1.64
FEF50 (L/s)
At baseline	0.37 (0.31–0.71)	0.50 (0.26–0.82)
After 4 weeks	0.52 (0.29–0.82)	0.52 (0.24–0.77)
FEF25 (L/s)
At baseline	0.17 (0.15–0.27)	0.22 (0.16–0.31)
After 4 weeks	0.21 (0.12–0.33)	0.22 (0.17–0.28)
VC (L)
At baseline	2.87 ± 0.68	2.90 ± 0.65
After 4 weeks	3.16 ± 0.69	2.92 ± 0.63
FVC (L)
At baseline	2.6 ± 0.764	2.71 ± 0.936
After 4 weeks	2.77 ± 0.969	2.65 ± 0.869
FEV1 (L)
At baseline	1.22 ± 0.43	1.34 ± 0.66
After 4 weeks	1.35 ± 0.56	1.32 ± 0.644

Notes: Data are presented as means ± SD or median (25th−75th percentile).

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; PEF, peak expiratory flow; FEF₅₀, forced expiratory flow after 50% of expired FVC; FEF₂₅, forced expiratory flow after 75% of expired FVC; VC, vital capacity; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; L, Liter; L/s, Liter per second.

Figure 1 Amount of change in VC for each patient for the pulmonary function test.

Notes: ^aP=0.077 compared with the control, analyzed by unpaired t-test. Data are presented as means ± SD.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; VC, vital capacity; L, Liter.

Figure 2 Amount of change in PEF for each patient for the pulmonary function test.

Notes: ^bP=0.095 compared with the control, analyzed by unpaired t-test. Data are presented as means ± SD.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; PEF, peak expiratory flow; L/s, Liter per second.

Figure 3 Amount of change in FEF₅₀ for each patient for the pulmonary function test.

Notes: ^cP=0.019 compared with control, analyzed by Mann–Whitney test. Data are presented as median (with ranges in parentheses, 25th–75th percentile).
Abbreviations: FEF₅₀, forced expiratory flow after 50% of expired forced vital capacity; L/s, Liter per second.