TABLE 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population
| GOLD stratum |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | 0 | 1 and 2 | 3 and 4 |
| Subjects, n | 25 | 23 | 23 |
| Age, years, median (interquartile range) | 58.4 (10.3) | 65.8 (18.0) | 65.9 (13.2) |
| Men, n (%) | 6 (24) | 11 (48) | 13 (57) |
| Smoking, pack-years, median (interquartile range) | 40.0 (29.5) | 51.3 (40.3) | 48.0 (26.3) |
| Current smokers, n (%) | 12 (48) | 7 (30) | 4 (17) |
| BODE index score | 2.3±2.2 | 2.3±1.8 | 5.6±2.5 |
| Dyspnea score | 2.1±1.4 | 2.4±1.0 | 2.9±1.3 |
| Per cent predicted FEV1 at baseline | 82±18 | 66±19 | 35±9 |
| 6 min walk distance, m | 353±156 | 405±105 | 328±168 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 29.0±8.5 | 29.0±5.4 | 25.9±6.1 |
| Emergency department visits in previous year | 1.6±0.9 | 1.4±0.7 | 1.8±0.9 |
| Hospitalizations in previous year, n | 1.3±0.7 | 1.2±0.5 | 1.5±0.6 |
| C-reactive protein titre, mg/L | 5.1±6.0 | 5.0±4.8 | 3.5±3.8 |
| Subject medication profile, n (%) | |||
| Short-acting beta-2 agonist | 15 (60) | 13 (57) | 12 (52) |
| Long-acting beta-2 agonist | 0 (0) | 2 (9) | 1 (4) |
| Inhaled steroid | 5 (20) | 3 (13) | 6 (26) |
| Combination inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-2 agonist | 15 (60) | 12 (52) | 17 (74) |
| Anticholinergics including tiotropium and ipratropium/albuterol | 12 (48) | 16 (70) | 19 (83) |
| Oral steroid | 4 (16) | 1 (4) | 4 (17) |
| Leukotriene antagonist | 2 (8) | 3 (13) | 3 (13) |
| Theophylline | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (4) |
Data presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated. BODE Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise capacity; FEV1 Forced expiratory volume in 1 s; GOLD Global initiative on chronic Obstructive Lung Disease