Table 1.
Baseline patients’ characteristics
| Clinical data | GAE (n=16) | GSta (n=16) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 70.3±10.1 | 66.3±8.4 | 0.2 |
| Gender, male/female (n) | 11/5 | 16/0 | 0.1 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 25.0±5.8 | 24.7±4.2 | 0.9 |
| Exacerbation, n/year | 1.9±1.8 | 1.0±0.9 | 0.2 |
| mMRC | 2.5 (1.25–3) | 1 (1–2) | 0.04 |
| Smoking, never/ex/current | 1 (6.3)/13 (81.3)/2 (12.5) | 0/16 (100)/0 | 0.03 |
| Pack-years | 41.0±27.6 | 48.0±26.9 | 0.5 |
| Clinical parameters | |||
| HR, bpm | 78.1±13.5 | 81.2±9.9 | 0.4 |
| RR, rpm | 21.6±2.2 | 18.8±2.9 | 0.006 |
| SBP, mmHg | 118.1±13.7 | 123.2±17.2 | 0.36 |
| DBP, mmHg | 75.6±8.1 | 75.8±9.0 | 1.0 |
| SpO2, % | 93.5±3.2 | 93.3±2.3 | 0.08 |
| Lung function | |||
| Forced vital capacity, % predicted | 69.9±16.9 | 92.6±21.1 | 0.005 |
| FEV1, % predicted | 40.4±12.4 | 53.9±19.7 | 0.04 |
| FEV1/forced vital capacity | 45.0±12.8 | 56.5±14.0 | 0.03 |
| MIP (cmH2O/% predicted) | −30.7±15.6/28±18 | −92.4±32.3/92±30 | <0.001 |
| MEP (cmH2O/% predicted) | 54.5±20.5/46±21 | 125.8±30.4/112±34 | <0.001 |
| PaO2, mmHg | 91.3±35 | 70.2±6.3 | 0.01 |
| PaCO2, mmHg | 40.8±7.2 | 37.1±4.7 | 0.1 |
| Main comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Hypertension | 11 (68.8) | 9 (56.3) | 0.1 |
| Type 2 diabetes | 3 (18.8) | 3 (18.8) | 1.0 |
| Stroke | 3 (18.8) | 0 | 0.01 |
| Alcoholism, ex/current | 2 (12.5)/1 (6.3) | 5 (31.3)/0 | 0.1 |
| Therapies, n (%) | |||
| laBa | – | 1 (6.3) | |
| laBa + ICs | – | 5 (31.3) | |
| laBa + ICs + laMa | – | 9 (56.3) | |
| laBa + laMa | – | 1 (6.3) | |
| saBa + ICs | 4 (25) | – | |
| saBa + ICs + saMa | 10 (62.5) | – | |
| saBa + saMa | 2 (12.5) | – | |
Note: Data are presented as mean ± SD or median (interquartile).
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; mMRC, modified Medical Research Council; HR, heart rate; RR, respiratory rate; SBP, systolic brachial pressure; DBP, diastolic brachial pressure; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; MIP, maximal inspiratory pressure; MEP, maximal expiratory pressure; laBa, long-acting beta-2 agonist; ICs, inhaled corticosteroids; laMa, long-acting anticholinergics; saBa, short-acting beta-2 agonist; saMa, short-acting anticholinergics; SD, standard deviation; GAE, acute exacerbation COPD group; GSta, stable COPD group.