Table 1 Patient characteristics

Age, yr

66 ± 11

66 ± 10

p = 0.990

Sex, (male/female)

10/16

10/16

–

38%/62%

38%/62%

BMI, kg/m²

24 ± 5

26 ± 4

p = 0.060

Systolic blood pressure, mmHg

126 ± 19

129 ± 18

p = 0.458

Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg

66 ± 11

68 ± 12

p = 0.469

WHO-FC

 I/II/III/IV

1/16/7/2

4/16/6/0

p = 0.098

4%/62%/27%/8%

15%/62%/23%/0%

Gold-stage

 I/II/III/IV

5/13/3/5

–

–

19%/50%/12%/19%

Smoking status

 Never/quit/active

7/15/4

12/12/2

p = 0.314

 Pack years (py)

25 (11–33)

15 (9–30)

p = 0.323

LTOT treatment, n

5

0

–

Hb, g/dL

13.6 (12.7–14.9)

14.0 (12.6–14.7)

p = 0.880

NT-proBNP, pg/mL

263 (101–625)

144 (64–344)

p = 0.109

Creatinine, mg/dL

0.91 (0.70–1.28)

0.97 (0.81–1.07)

p = 0.497

FVC, % predicted

74 ± 25

101 ± 23

p = 0.001

FEV1, % predicted

56 ± 25

96 ± 22

p < 0.001

FEV1/FVC

60 (50–66)

78 (73–82)

p < 0.001

TLC, % predicted

123 ± 31

104 ± 12

p = 0.025

DLCO_cSB, % predicted

59 ± 19

83 ± 18

p < 0.001

DLCO_cVA, % predicted

74 ± 22

89 ± 17

p = 0.007

6MWD, m

360 (308–434)

447 (394–493)

p = 0.018

Maximal exercise level, Watt

50 (50–75)

100 (75–125)

p = 0.002

Peak VO₂, %predicted

64 (55–82)

95 (87–102)

p < 0.001

E/E′ ratio

9 ± 2

12 ± 4

p = 0.140

LVEF, %

70 ± 8

67 ± 6

p = 0.465

TRV, mmHg

37 (31–42)

34 (31–40)

p = 0.808

sPAP, mmHg

42 (36–47)

41 (36–46)

p = 0.674

TAPSE, mm

24 (18–27)

25 (21–27)

p = 0.419