Table 1.
Patient characteristics at baseline for all the patients and according to the GOLD disease severity scale.a,b
| Variable | Total | At risk for COPD | GOLD1 | GOLD2 | GOLD3+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 54 | n = 13 (24.1%) | n = 5 (7.4%) | n = 25 (46.3%) | n = 11 (20.4%) | p-Value | |
| Age (years) | 66.2 ± 9.0 | 63.5 ± 8.3 | 60.4 ± 7.2 | 68.2 ± 9.1 | 67.4 ± 9.3 | 0.207 |
| Sex (male) | 32 (59.3) | 6 (11.1) | 4 (7.4) | 13 (24.7) | 9 (16.6) | 0.21 |
| BMI | 27.5 ± 5.7 | 28.9 ± 5.2 | 27.8 ± 5.6 | 27.9 ± 5.4 | 24.8 ± 6.8 | 0.23 |
| Smoking status | ||||||
| Never smoked | 2 (3.7) | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0) | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0) | 1 |
| Current smoker | 32 (59.3) | 9 (16.7) | 30 (5.6) | 15 (27.8) | 5 (9.3) | 0.67 |
| Smoking pack-years | 44.2 ± 18.8 | 46.75 ± 21.6 | 37.2 ± 25.3 | 40.6 ± 17.4 | 50.38 ± 16.2 | 0.82 |
| MRC | 2.5 ± 1.4 | 2.4 ± 1.6 | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 2.6 ± 1.3 | 2.8 ± 1.4 | 0.321 |
| MRC ≥ 3 | 21 (38.8) | 5 (9.7) | 1 (1.9) | 9 (16.7) | 6 (11.1) | 0.59 |
| CAT | 15.1 ± 6.8 | 10.5 ± 5.2 | 12.6 ± 5.5 | 16.1 ± 6.7 | 19.5 ± 6.3 | 0.01b |
| Post-bronchodilator spirometry | ||||||
| FEV1/FVC | 60.1 ± 13.2 | 76.5 ± 7.4 | 64.5 ± 5.1 | 58.1 ± 7.6 | 43.4 ± 6.0 | <0.001b |
| FEV1 (L) | 1.6 ± 0.6 | 1.9 ± 0.6 | 2.5 ± 0.4 | 1.6 ± 0.5 | 1.1 ± 0.3 | <0.001b |
| FEV1 (% of predicted) | 65.5 ± 20.3 | 75.1 ± 21.5 | 95.8 ± 18.7 | 65.5 ± 9.0 | 40.6 ± 5.4 | <0.001b |
| Co-morbidities | ||||||
| Allergies | 20 (37.4) | 4 (7.4) | 3 (5.6) | 11 (20.4) | 2 (3.7) | 0.33 |
| Asthma | 16 (29.6) | 3 (5.6) | 1 (1.9) | 10 (18.5) | 2 (3.7) | 0.59 |
| Diabetes | 9 (16.7) | 3 (5.6) | 0 (0) | 6 (11.1) | 0 (0) | 0.2627 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 18 (33.3) | 2 (3.7) | 1 (1.9) | 12 (22.2) | 3 (5.6) | 0.21 |
| GERD | 17 (31.5) | 4 (7.4) | 2 (3.7) | 10 (18.5) | 1 (1.9) | 0.29 |
| Medication usec | ||||||
| Antibiotic | 22 (40.7) | 5 (9.3) | 2 (3.7) | 9 (16.6) | 6 (11.11) | 0.79 |
| Oral corticosteroid | 11 (21.2) | 1 (1.9) | 0 (0) | 6 (11.5) | 4 (7.7) | 0.31 |
| Health-care utilizationd | ||||||
| Hospitalization | 2 (3.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (3.7) | 0.083 |
| ER visits | 3 (5.6) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (5.6) | 0.017b |
| Patients with ≥1 unscheduled visits | 22 (40.7) | 4 (7.4) | 3 (5.6) | 10 (18.5) | 5 (9.3) | 0.699 |
GOLD: global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease; BMI: body mass index; MRC: Medical Research Council; CAT: COPD assessment test; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in the first second; FVC: forced vital capacity; GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease; ER: emergency room; SD: standard deviation.
aValues are expressed as mean ± SD or as n (%).
bDifferences between the disease severity groups are considered significant if p values are <0.05.
cResults presented as the number of patients (%) with self-reported antibiotic or oral corticosteroid treatments in the year prior to the study.
dResults presented as the number of patients (%) with self-reported hospitalizations, ER visits, and/or one or more unscheduled visits to the clinic in the year prior to the study.