Table 2. Baseline characteristics of the study population.
| Telemonitoring (n = 53) | Usual care (n = 53) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 81.4 ± 7.8 | 79.0 ± 9.6 | 0.165 |
| Male sex | 43 (81) | 38 (72) | 0.253 |
| Smoking, pack-years | 58 ± 43 | 47 ± 31 | 0.143 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 20.2 ± 4.3 | 20.2 ± 4.1 | 0.930 |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Coronary artery disease | 12 (23) | 9 (17) | 0.465 |
| Heart failure | 14 (26) | 13 (25) | 0.824 |
| Hypertension | 28 (53) | 33 (62) | 0.326 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 11 (21) | 10 (19) | 0.807 |
| Exacerbation history in the previous year | |||
| Admission | 16 (30) | 19 (36) | 0.536 |
| Emergency room visit | 19 (36) | 17 (32) | 0.682 |
| Spirometry | |||
| FEV1 (%) | 62 ± 23 | 62 ± 21 | 0.996 |
| FEV1/FVC | 0.53 ± 0.11 | 0.55 ± 0.09 | 0.314 |
| GOLD classification of airflow limitation | |||
| Mild/moderate | 35 (66) | 34 (64) | 0.839 |
| Severe/very severe | 18 (34) | 19 (36) | |
| Medications prior to admission | |||
| Short-acting β2 agonist | 47 (89) | 45 (85) | 0.566 |
| Long-acting β2 agonist | 32 (60) | 35 (66) | 0.546 |
| Long-acting anticholinergic | 36 (68) | 34 (64) | 0.682 |
| Inhaled corticosteroid | 33 (62) | 37 (70) | 0.412 |
Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation or number (%) as appropriate.
FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.