Table 2. Main outcomes of the study population, in relation to the three study groups.
| Study population | Group A | Group B | Group C | |
| Follow-up time (months) – mean (SD) | 29 (16.31) | 29 (16·41) | 29 (16.24) | 30 (16.29) |
| Death at index event, N(%) | 760 (5) | 253 (5) | 403 (5) | 104(6) |
| Death, N(%) | 7452 (47) | 2887 (51) | 3826 (45)1 | 739 (41)12 |
| Total E-COPD | ||||
| N. of subjects with at least one, N (%) | 12856 (81) | 4867 (87) | 6871 (82)1 | 1118 (62)12 |
| Annual rate' (CI 95%) | 3.2 (3.15–3.20) | 4.3 (4.19–4.31) | 2.9 (2.88–2.94) | 1.2 (1.13–1.21) |
| Severe E-COPD | ||||
| N. of subjects with at least one, N (%) | 6878 (43) | 3648 (65) | 2823 (34)1 | 407 (23)12 |
| Annual rate' (CI 95%) | 0.5 (0.51–0.53) | 0.9 (0.91–0.97) | 0.3 (0.30–0.32) | 0.2 (0.17–0.20) |
| Moderate E-COPD | ||||
| N. of subjects with at least one, N (%) | 12045 (76) | 4459 (79) | 6585 (78) | 1001 (56) 12 |
| Annual rate' (CI 95%) | 2.7 (2.64–2.68) | 3.3 (3.26–3.36) | 2.6 (2.57–2.63) | 1.0 (0.95–1.03) |
Group A: patients with at least one severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (E-COPD) in the three-year pre-index period; Group B: patients with only moderate E-COPD in the three-year pre-index period; Group C patients without E-COPD in the three-year pre-index period. The index event is not included. SD = standard deviation.
'Age and sex adjusted rate per one person-year.
1
p<0.05 vs group A, 2 p<0.05 vs group B.