Statistical analysis
dyspnea
SECONDARY
Analyses were performed using SAS Software version 9.4. Values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median [percentile 25-percentile 75] (in case of non-normal distribution – Shapiro-Wilk test) or as numbers (%) in case of frequencies. Statistical significance was set a priori as p < 0.05 for all analyses. All randomized patients were invited for follow-up assessments and included in the Intention-to-treat analysis, even if they stopped using the intervention. The overall effects of the PR-program from V-1 to V0 were descriptively calculated for all patients from assessments obtained in clinical routine.First, to assess the effect of the PA-telecoaching program on change in PA (i.e. steps/day, MVPA and MI), mixed model analyses were used retrieving the interaction effects at each visit as main results. PA at V0 was chosen as reference. The models were adjusted for daylight as a proxy for seasonality [Second, to analyze the effect of the PA-telecoaching program on change of PR-acquired benefits similar mixed models were used for secondary outcomes (maximal, endurance and functional exercise tolerance, quadriceps force, symptoms of dyspnea and QoL). The change in exploratory outcomes (body weight, bone mineral density, blood glucose, lipids and insulin profile) from V-1 (start PR, i.e. 3 months before randomization) to V3 were analysed via ANCOVA analyses, adjusting for values at randomization (V0).Finally, we explored the difference in proportion of patients with long-term success between UCG and IG using chi-square analyses. Long-term success was defined as an increase above the minimal important difference (MID) at V3 as compared to start of PR (V-1) in terms of (A) functional exercise tolerance (i.e. Δ6MWD ≥ 30 m), (B) symptoms of dyspnea (CRDQ score ≥ 2.5 points) and (C) QoL(CRDQ score ≥ 10 points) [