Table 1.
Comparison of older adults and younger adults in the Lung Tissue Research Consortium
| Variable | Age ≥ 65 yr | Age < 65 yr | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 427 | 393 | |
| Age, yr | 70 (67–75) | 58 (52–61) | <0.0001 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 243 (56.9) | 183 (46.6) | 0.003 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 27.5 (24.2–31.3) | 28.3 (24.0–32.1) | 0.32 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| White | 415 (97.2) | 355 (90.3) | 0.003 |
| African American | 7 (1.6) | 21 (5.3) | |
| Hispanic | 2 (0.5) | 8 (2.0) | |
| Other | 3 (0.7) | 9 (2.4) | |
| Comorbid disease | |||
| Angina | 55 (12.9) | 43 (11.0) | 0.39 |
| Heart failure | 45 (10.6) | 20 (5.1) | 0.004 |
| Diabetes | 59 (13.9) | 52 (13.3) | 0.81 |
| Renal failure | 15 (3.5) | 7 (1.8) | 0.13 |
| Cancer | 169 (39.7) | 79 (20.2) | <0.001 |
| Rheumatologic | 40 (9.4) | 37 (9.4) | 0.98 |
| Cirrhosis | 4 (0.9) | 5 (1.3) | 0.65 |
| HIV | 3 (0.7) | 1 (0.3) | 0.63 |
| Major diagnosis | |||
| ILD | 144 (33.7) | 194 (49.4) | <0.001 |
| COPD | 283 (66.3) | 199 (50.6) | |
| Spirometry | |||
| FEV1, % predicted | 70 (53–83) | 62 (39–77) | <0.001 |
| FVC, % predicted | 77 (64–90) | 69 (58–83) | <0.001 |
| DlCO, % predicted | 64 (51–83) | 62 (48–81) | 0.11 |
| 6MWD, m | 372 (312–426) | 388 (305–445) | 0.21 |
| Tissue collection | |||
| Lobectomy/wedge resection | 228 (53.4) | 127 (32.3) | <0.001 |
| Lung biopsy | 139 (32.6) | 160 (40.7) | |
| LVRS | 33 (7.7) | 51 (13.0) | |
| Not performed | 27 (6.3) | 55 (14.0) | |
| SS disability qualification | 154 (36.1) | 141 (35.9) | 0.96 |
| Missing data elements | 116 (27.2) | 105 (26.7) | 0.89 |
Definition of abbreviations: 6MWD = 6-minute-walk distance; BMI = body mass index; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DlCO = diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; ILD = interstitial lung disease; LVRS = lung volume reduction surgery; SS = social security.
Categorical data are presented as n (%) and compared using the chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Continuous data are presented as median (interquartile range) and compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. FEV1 and FVC % predicted were calculated using the Hankinson equations. DlCO % predicted was determined by calculating predicted total lung capacity using equations for vital capacity and residual volume from Goldman and Becklake and then multiplying this by the ratio of single breath diffusing capacity to alveolar volume derived from the data of Burrows.