Table 1.
Patients’ characteristics at study inclusion. Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise
| Characteristics | Self management (n=55) | Routine monitoring (n=55) | Usual care (n=55) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 65.5 (11.5) | 65.8 (8.3) | 63.5 (10.3) |
| Male sex | 37 (67) | 42 (76) | 28 (51) |
| Median (interquartile range) COPD duration (years) | 7.0 (3.8-13.0) | 6.0 (3.0-11.0) | 8.0 (4.0-13.0) |
| Low educational level | 30 (55) | 35 (64) | 27 (49) |
| Current smoker | 16 (29) | 15 (27) | 18 (33) |
| Post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < lower limit of normal | 43 (78) | 42 (76) | 38 (69) |
| Mean (SD) post-bronchodilator FEV1 (% predicted) | 66.3 (16.5) | 62.9 (14.4) | 67.0 (18.0) |
| No (interquartile range) of previous GP diagnosed exacerbations* | 1.0 (0-2.0) | 1.0 (0-2.0) | 0.5 (0-2.0) |
| Mean (SD) MRC dyspnoea score | 2.02 (0.94) | 1.87 (0.72) | 1.73 (0.76) |
| Respiratory drug treatment: | |||
| None | 11 (20) | 16 (29) | 19 (35) |
| Long acting bronchodilators | 29 (53) | 14 (25) | 10 (21) |
| Inhaled corticosteroids | 35 (64) | 21 (38) | 17 (31) |
| Relevant comorbidities: | |||
| Depression or anxiety | 4 (7) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) |
| Heart failure | 7 (13) | 7 (13) | 4 (7) |
| Cancer | 4 (7) | 3 (5) | 1 (2) |
COPD=chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV1=forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC=forced vital capacity; GP=general practitioner; MRC=Medical Research Council.
*Unscheduled contacts with GP for worsening of respiratory symptoms in previous 24 months.