Table 1.
Baseline patient characteristics (n = 149). Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise
| Characteristics | Intervention (n = 75) | Control (n = 74) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age [years] | 64.7 (12.4) | 69.0 (8.8) |
| Men | 46 (61) | 51 (69) |
| Civil status | ||
| Unmarried | 7 (9) | 10 (14) |
| Married | 46 (61) | 48 (65) |
| Divorced/widowed | 22 (29) | 16 (22) |
| Highest level of education at school [n] | ||
| Primary school | 10 (13) | 11 (15) |
| Apprenticeship | 38 (50) | 52 (70) |
| Higher professional education | 14 (19) | 6 (8) |
| University-entrance Diploma/Commercial college | 2 (3) | 1 (1) |
| University / Collage of higher education | 11 (15) | 4 (6) |
| Employment status [n] | ||
| Active worker | 23 (31) | 15 (20) |
| Pensioner | 47 (63) | 57 (77) |
| Never active worker | 5 (6) | 2 (3) |
| Diagnosed lung disease | ||
| Asthma | 30 (40) | 16 (22) |
| COPD | 32 (43) | 45 (61) |
| Asthma-COPD- overlap | 13 (17) | 13 (17) |
| Smoking status | ||
| Current smoker | 16 (21.3) | 12 (16.2) |
| Non-smokers | 19 (25.3) | 14 (18.9) |
| Ex-smokers | 40 (53.3) | 48 (64.9) |
| Mean (SD) pack-years [n] | 28.6 (32.8) | 41.2 (34.3) |
| History of allergy | 35 (47) | 29 (39) |
| Mean (SD) body mass index [kg/m2] | 26.5 (4.2) | 28.0 (5.6) |
| GOLD stage | ||
| 1 (FEV1 > 80% predicted), mild | 2 (4)a | 6 (10)b |
| 2 (FEV1 50–80% predicted), moderate | 20 (45)a | 24 (42)b |
| 3 (FEV1 30–50% predicted), severe | 19 (42)a | 21 (36)b |
| 4 (FEV1 < 30% predicted), very severe | 4 (9)a | 7 (12)b |
| Mean (SD) FEV1 predicted [%] | 63.9 (25.0) | 56.5 (23.5)c |
| Mean (SD) FEV1/FVC predicted [%] | 70.3 (20.7) | 67.1 (22.1)c |
| Mean SGRQ symptoms score (SD) | 45.7 (21.5) | 48.7 (25.6) |
| Mean SGRQ activity score (SD) | 45.2 (19.3) | 52.4 (23.7) |
| Mean SGRQ impact score (SD) | 21.8 (14.6) | 29.3 (20.7) |
| Mean SGRQ total score (SD) | 32.5 (14.7) | 39.6 (20.3) |
| Mean (SD) inhaled medication [n] | 1.9 (0.8) | 2.0 (0.8) |
| Mean (SD) co-morbidities [n] | 1.8 (1.6) | 2.2 (1.7) |
| Co-existing illnesses [n] | ||
| Diseases of the cardiovascular system | 44 (59) | 46 (62) |
| Endocrine, nutritional and metabolicdiseases | 18 (24) | 19 (26) |
| Diseases of the gastrointestinal system | 10 (13) | 8 (11) |
| Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue | 16 (21) | 16 (22) |
| Mean (SD) exacerbations (last 12 months) [n] | 1.7 (0.9) | 2.07 (1.4) |
| Mean (SD) exacerbations with hospitalisation (last 12 months) [n] | 0.4 (0.6) | 0.7 (1.0) |
| Medication [n] | ||
| LABA/LAMA combinations | 10 (13) | 9 (12) |
| LABA/ICS combinations | 52 (69) | 53 (72) |
| LAMA | 26 (35) | 41 (55) |
| LABA | 14 (19) | 6 (8) |
| ICS | 10 (13) | 5 (7) |
| SABA | 32 (43) | 34 (46) |
| SABA/SAMA combinations | 2 (2.7) | 2 (2.7) |
| Number of inhaled medication at baseline | ||
| 1 | 22 (29.3) | 23 (31.1) |
| 2 | 36 (48.0) | 27 (36.5) |
| 3 | 16 (21.3) | 23 (31.1) |
| 4 | 1 (1.3) | 1 (1.4) |
an = 45; bn = 58; cn = 72; FEV1, Forced expiratory volume in 1 sec; FVC Forced vital capacity, LABA Long acting beta2-agonist, LAMA Long acting muscarinic antagonist, ICS Inhaled corticosteroid, SABA Short acting beta2-agonist, SGRQ St. George Respiratory Questionnaire