Table 1.
Patients, investigations, follow-up and treatments characteristics
| N = 2494 | Mean ± SD or% |
|---|---|
| Age (years) |
67.0 ± 10.6 |
| Male (%) |
78% |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) |
25.84 ± 5.17 |
| Smokers / ex-smokers |
25.6% / 62.4% |
| Chronic bronchitis without airflow obstruction / COPD |
23.7% / 76.3% |
| (GOLD stage): 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 |
2.9% / 29.7% / 26.1% / 17.6% / |
| FEV1 (L/sec) |
53.1 ± 19.6 |
| Duration of chronic bronchitis / COPD (years) |
8.0 ± 7.8 |
| Chronic cough / sputum production |
70.5% / 72.2% |
| Chronic cough with sputum production by GOLD stage in COPD patients: GOLD 1/2/3/4 |
62.0% / 71.9% / 72.4% / 76.4% |
| Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea grade: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 |
14.2% / 30.3% / 30.5% / 16.2% / 6.1% |
| At least one exacerbation during the last 12 months |
86.3% |
| Number of exacerbations per year | |
| -Mild / moderate (oral corticosteroids or antibiotics) |
1.4 ± 2.3 / 1.6 ± 1.7 |
| -Severe (hospitalization) / very severe (intensive care unit) |
0.3 ± 0.8 / 0.0 ± 0.2 |
| Comorbidities | |
| -CHD / CHF / RVF |
14.9% / 6.5% / 7.2% |
| -Asthma / bronchiectasis / sleep apnea syndrome |
11.9% / 6.3% / 8.6% |
| -Depression |
7.9% |
| Investigations and follow-up during the past 12 months | |
| -Arterial blood gases / EKG |
70.0% / 68.8% |
| -CT-scan / echocardiography |
61.6% / 50.6% |
| -Sleep oximetry / polysomnography |
23.2% / 15.4% |
| -6MWT |
27.9% |
| Visits to respiratory physicians / GPs |
2.6 ± 1.7 / 6.7 ± 4.1 |
| Treatments | |
| -ICS / Fixed ICS + LABA combinations |
22.8% / 51.5% |
| -SABA / SABA + SAMA |
34.9% / 29.9% |
| -LABA / LAMA |
26.6% / 17.0% |
| -Theophylline / oral corticosteroids |
8.3% / 4.5% |
| -LTOT / LTNIV |
16.6% / 4.8% |
| -Influenza / pneumococcal vaccines |
81.2% / 58.2% |
| -Rehabilitation during the last 2 years | 26.9% |
CHD: coronary heart disease; CHF: congestive heart failure; RVF: right ventricular failure; EKG: electrocardiogram; 6MWT: 6-minutes walk test; GP: general practitioner; ICS: inhaled corticosteroids; SABA/LABA: short/long-acting beta-agonists; SAMA/LAMA: short/long-acting anticholinergics; LTOT/LTNIV: long-term oxygen therapy / non-invasive ventilation.