Table 2.

Analysis Showing the Independent Effects of Time and Exacerbation With 95% CIs on Each Parameter^*

		Change With Time		Exacerbation
Variables	Start†	Annual	95% CI	Change	95% CI	Obs‡	Patients, No.
FEV1, mL	1,146	− 40.2§	− 44.5 to − 36.0	− 37.0§	− 51.7 to − 22.4	3,248	148
FEV1, %	44.2	− 1.5§	− 1.7 to − 1.3	− 1.4§	− 2.0 to − 0.93	3,226	145
Dyspnea		1.48§∥	1.34 to 1.65	NA	NA
BMI, kg/m2	25.7	− 0.2§	− 0.4 to − 0.1	NA	NA	467	147
Plasma fibrinogen, g/L	3.64	0.10§	0.07 to 0.13	0.31§	0.20 to 0.41	978	132
Sputum IL-6, pg/mL	104	9§	9 to 10	70§	7 to 75	262	98
Total bacterial load, log10 cell count/g	6.87	0.15	− 0.05 to + 0.35	0.31§	0.00 to 0.62	274	80
Neutrophils	1.63¶	1.64§	0.53 to 2.76	3.19§	1.24 to 5.14	97	59
Eosinophils	0.12¶	− 0.024	− 0.05 to 0.00	− 0.02	− 0.08 to + 0.03	97	59
Lymphocytes	0.17¶	− 0.05§	− 0.08 to − 0.03	0.06§	0.02 to 0.09	97	59
Macrophages	0.71¶	− 0.05	− 0.15 to 0.04	0.05	− 0.10 to 0.20	97	59

^*NA = not applicable; changes in parameters are not significant unless stated otherwise.

^†The start value is calculated by the regression line extrapolated backwards in time to the start date of the study.

^‡No. of observations of the parameter.

^§p < 0.05.

^∥Odd ratios for an increase in dyspnea from one year to the next.

^¶Cell count at 1.5 years after start of study and have units of × 10⁶ cells per gram of sputum.