Table 2.
Comparison of characteristics of patients who revealed growth of PPMs versus non-PPMs
| Characteristics | PPMs (n=34) | Non-PPMs (n=38) | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, mean±SD | 61.53±9.20 | 56.55±9.48 | 0.027 |
| BMI, mean±SD | 19.57±2.61 | 19.87±2.30 | 0.608 |
| Smokers, n (%) | 33 (86.84) | 31 (91.17) | 0.714 |
| Smoking pack years, mean±SD | 33.37±23.19 | 32.79±20.64 | 0.911 |
| No. of exacerbations in previous year, mean±SD | 2.26±1.23 | 1.34±0.71 | 0.001 |
| Lung function, mean±SD | |||
| FEV1 | 1.09±0.52 | 1.35±0.40 | 0.021 |
| FEV1, % predicted | 49.03±20.37 | 58.55±13.97 | 0.022 |
| FVC | 2.37±0.56 | 2.61±0.52 | 0.06 |
| FVC, % predicted | 80.35±15.76 | 86.82±12.05 | 0.053 |
| FEV1/FVC | 44.39±14.15 | 51.62±10.48 | 0.016 |
| Arterial blood gas analysis, mean±SD | |||
| pO2 | 67.81±11.71 | 71.22±6.32 | 0.124 |
| pCO2 | 43.09±7.27 | 40.64±3.75 | 0.072 |
| pH | 7.40±0.07 | 7.41±0.05 | 0.751 |
| Inhaled steroids use, n (%) | 25 (73.5) | 25 (65.8) | 0.610 |
| Systemic steroid use, n (%) | 9 (26.5) | 1 (2.6) | 0.005 |
| Home oxygen use, n (%) | 5 (14.7) | 3 (7.89) | 0.35 |
PPM: potentially pathogenic microorganisms; BMI: Body Mass Index; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC: forced vital capacity; SD: standard deviation