Table 2 Comparison between groups regards pulmonary function, SGRQ score, and 6MWT at pretreatment and 6 months post-treatment

FVC (ml)

1287.6 ± 106.79

1276.0 ± 106.74

0.344

0.733

FVC% predicted

55.75 ± 4.26

57.45 ± 6.16

0.200

0.842

6MWT (m)

287.5 ± 33.06

290.0 ± 28.383

− 0.255

0.800

PaO₂ at rest(mmHg)

64.75 ± 2.31

62.85 ± 4.24

− 1.892

0.121

SaO₂

93.5 ± 2.48

92.5 ± 2.63

− 1.792

0.142

Estimated PAP

35.0 ± 5.36

33.25 ± 7.74

1.795

0.081

SGRQ SCORE

37.2 ± 1.43

37.85 ± 2.42

− 0.995

0.326

FVC (ml) 6 M

1265.55 ± 215.15

1100.5 ± 109.46

4.031

0.00**

FVC% predicted 6 M

48.85 ± 6.42

44.5 ± 4.53

3.231

0.002*

6MWT 6 M

310.0 ± 74.09

267.0 ± 37.98

2.356

0.028*

PAP 6 M

33.0 ± 6.56

36.8 ± 5.95

− 2.186

0.037*

SaO₂ 6 M

94.15 ± 3.52

87.0 ± 3.07

2.745

0.017*

PaO₂ 6 M

66.05 ± 2.81

54.9 ± 3.53

10.113

0.00**

SGRQ SCORE 6M

38.25 ± 2.35

44.5 ± 4.52

6.789

0.00**