Table 1.
Characteristics of the study sample CHF- versus COPD-subjects. Results are presented as mean ±1 SD (range) for continuous variables and percentage for categorical variables. P-values are from Chi-square test and Student’s t-test (P-value≥0.05)
| CHF (n=58) | COPD (n=36) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 83±7 (65–100) | 75±6 (65–86) | <0.001 |
| Women, n (%) | 29 (50) | 22 (61) | n.s. |
| 12 months prior inclusion Times hospitalized, all causes |
3.1±1.5 (2–10) |
3.4±1.8 (2–9) |
n.s. |
| Current smokers, n (%) | 2 (3) | 10 (29) | <0.05 |
| Ex-smokers, n (%) | 31 (54) | 25 (71) | n.s. |
| Never smokers, n (%) | 25 (43) | 0 (0) | <0.05 |
| Pack-year | 8±13 (0–59) | 38±19 (1–100) | <0.001 |
| BMI | 27±5 (16–43) | 24±6 (12–41) | <0.01 |
| SAT (%) | 95±3 (82–99) | 90±6 (70–98) | <0.001 |
| Subjects on LTOT, n (%) | 0 (0) | 7 (19) | |
| CCI, mean (SD) | 4.9 (2.3) | 3.4 (2.0) | <0.001 |
| CCI, n (%) 0–1 |
4 (7) |
5 (14) |
n.s. |
| 2 | 4 (7) | 9 (25) | <0.05 |
| 3 | 6 (10) | 12 (33) | <0.05 |
| ≥4 | 44 (76) | 10 (28) | <0.05 |
| Subjects with COPD, n (%) | 17 (29) | 36 (100) | |
| FEV1 (% predicted), COPD subjects only | 58±18 (23–96) | 39±15 (13–79) | <0.001 |
| GOLD stage, n (%) I–II |
13 (76) |
3 (8) |
<0.05 |
| III | 3 (18) | 7 (20) | n.s. |
| IV | 1 (6) | 26 (72) | <0.05 |
| GOLD grade, n (%) A–B |
6 (35) |
1 (3) |
<0.05 |
| C | 0 (0) | 0 (0.0) | n.s. |
| D | 11 (65) | 35 (97) | <0.05 |
| Subjects with CHF, n (%) | 58 (100) | 22 (61) | |
| NYHA-class, n (%) 3 |
46 (79) |
20 (91) |
<0.05 |
| 4 | 12 (21) | 2 (9) | <0.05 |
| WBC (ref: 3.5–8.8×10*9/L) | 7.8±1.9 (4.2–12.4) | 10.9±4.8 (5.6–32.7) | <0.001 |
| hsCRP (ref: <10 mg/L) | 14.7±16.3 (0.7–93) | 29.1±58.9 (0.3–343) | n.s. |
| Hemoglobin (ref: 134–170 g/L) | 127±17 (95–167) | 130±17 (102–172) | n.s. |
| Creatinine (ref: 45–90 µmol/L) | 134±63 (64–488) | 83±30 (43–164) | <0.001 |
| ProBNP (ref: <1800 ng/L) | 6036±6232 (410–35,000) | – | |
| 25(OH)D (ref: ≥50 nmol/L) | – | 60±28 (11–141) |
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CCI, Charlson Comorbidity Index; CHF, chronic heart failure; hs-CRP, high sensitivity C reactive protein; LTOT, long-term oxygen therapy; NYHA, New York Heart Association Functional Class; 25(OH)D, the stable metabolite of vitamin D; proBNP, B-type natriuretic protein; SAT, blood oxygen saturation; WBC, white blood cell count; n.s., not significant.