Table 1.

Plasma biomarkers of systemic inflammation are increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

	Healthy controls	Stable COPD	AECOPD
N	26	24	17
Sex (male:female)a	14:12	13:11	9:8
Age in yearsb	75 [53–90]	71 [60–89]	78 [53–92]
Plasma CRP (mg/l)	0·66 [0·15–6·8]	8·4 [0·15–73]c	33 [2·2–157]c , e
Plasma sTNFR1 (ng/ml)	0·52 [0·35–1·0]	1·3 [0·79–2·48]d	1·89 [1·13–6·41]c , e

Abbreviations:AECOPD, acute exacerbation of COPD; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRP, C‐reactive protein; sTNFR1, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor‐1.

Data are presented as median [range].

^aSimilar in all groups (Fisher's test, P > 0·05).

^bSimilar in all groups (Mann–Whitney U‐tests, P > 0·05).

^cHigher than controls, P < 0·001.

^dHigher than controls, P < 0·01.

^eHigher than sCOPD, P < 0·05.