Table 1.

Subject characteristics

Variable	N=28	(%)	Variable	N=28	(%)
Mean age, years (SD)	69.3	(±9.8)	Medication use
Race/ethnicity			Short-acting B-agonist	28	100
White	26	92.9	Short-acting anticholinergic	22	78.6
African American	2	7.1	Long-acting B-agonist	19	67.9
Current smoker	5	17.9	Long-acting anticholinergic	5	17.9
Chronic bronchitisa	15	53.6	Inhaled steroidd	22	78.6
Chronic respiratory symptoms			Theophylline	2	7.1
Dyspnea	26	92.9	Medications used to treat in last 12 months
Cough	13	46.4
Wheeze	17	69.7	≥1 Prednisone course	8	28.6
Sputum production	9	32.1	≥1 Antibiotic course	8	28.6
Mean pack-years (SD)	52.0	(±30.9)	≥1 Prednisone or antibiotic	13	46.4
Mean FEV1 in liters (SD)b	1.6	(±0.5)	COPD health care utilization in last 12 months
Mean FEV1 % predictedb	45.6	(±13.3)
GOLD stage			ED visits	6	21.4
II – Moderate	12	42.9	Hospitalizations	1	3.6
III – Severe	12	42.9	Hospitalization or ED visit	6	21.4
IV – Very severe	4	14.3
Home oxygen usec	7	25

Notes:

^aN=1 missing.

^bPostbronchodilator except for one patient with missing value for which the prebronchodilator value was used.

^cAs reported by the patient.

^dFlunisolide, triamcinolone, and mometasone.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; ED, Emergency Department.