TABLE 1.
Demographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics at baseline of patients with a COPD diagnosis included in the cohort
| Baseline | p-value# | ||
| Males (n=927) | Females (n=536) | ||
| Age years | 74.0 (66.0–81.0) | 74.0 (64.0–82.0) | 0.39 |
| Age categories (years) | |||
| <45 | 19 (2.0) | 10 (1.9) | 0.80 |
| 45–54 | 39 (4.2) | 50 (9.3) | <0.05 |
| 55–64 | 141 (15.2) | 80 (14.9) | 0.88 |
| 65–74 | 274 (29.5) | 132 (24.6) | <0.05 |
| 75–84 | 332 (35.8) | 185 (34.5) | 0.61 |
| ≥85 | 124 (13.4) | 79 (14.7) | 0.46 |
| Last smoking status prior to cohort entry | |||
| Smoker | 286 (30.8) | 120 (22.4) | <0.05 |
| Former smoker¶ | 326 (35.1) | 47 (8.8) | <0.05 |
| Never-smoker | 135 (14.5) | 208 (38.8) | <0.05 |
| Unknown | 182 (19.6) | 161 (30.0) | <0.05 |
| Last BMI status prior to cohort entry | |||
| Underweight (<18.5) | 3 (0.3) | 6 (1.1) | 0.08 |
| Normal weight (18.5–24.9) | 96 (10.4) | 73 (13.6) | 0.06 |
| Overweight (25.0–29.9) | 282 (30.4) | 94 (17.5) | <0.05 |
| Obese (≥30.0) | 344 (37.1) | 212 (39.6) | 0.35 |
| Unknown | 202 (21.8) | 151 (28.2) | <0.05 |
| Hospital admissions for COPD exacerbation in the year prior to cohort entry | 25 (2.7) | 6 (1.1) | 0.04 |
| Comorbidities any time prior to cohort entry+ | |||
| Cardiovascular disorders | |||
| Hypertension | 666 (71.8) | 415 (77.4) | <0.05 |
| Heart failure | 133 (14.3) | 74 (13.8) | 0.77 |
| Arrhythmia | 41 (4.4) | 28 (5.2) | 0.62 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 96 (10.3) | 50 (9.3) | 0.52 |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 199 (21.5) | 66 (12.3) | <0.05 |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 264 (28.5) | 126 (23.5) | <0.05 |
| Metabolic diseases | |||
| Diabetes mellitus | 281 (30.3) | 138 (25.7) | 0.06 |
| Osteoporosis | 62 (6.7) | 207 (38.6) | <0.05 |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 386 (41.6) | 228 (42.5) | 0.73 |
| Thyroid disorders | 127 (13.7) | 188 (35.0) | <0.05 |
| Nervous system disorders | |||
| Anxiety | 63 (6.8) | 55 (10.3) | <0.05 |
| Schizophrenic disorder | 7 (0.7) | 5 (0.9) | 0.71 |
| Depression | 43 (4.6) | 57 (10.6) | <0.05 |
| Dementia | 39 (4.2) | 22 (4.1) | 0.22 |
| Parkinson's disease | 26 (2.8) | 14 (2.6) | 0.82 |
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |||
| GORD | 190 (20.5) | 131 (24.4) | 0.08 |
| History of peptic ulcer | 47 (5.1) | 19 (3.5) | 0.17 |
| Rheumatological diseases | |||
| Arthritis and arthrosis | 496 (53.5) | 414 (77.2) | <0.05 |
| Gout | 150 (16.2) | 82 (15.3) | 0.65 |
| Diseases affecting sense organs | |||
| Cataracts | 151 (16.3) | 86 (16.0) | 0.90 |
| Retinopathy | 70 (7.5) | 38 (7.1) | 0.74 |
| Other disorders | |||
| Liver disease | 131 (14.1) | 56 (10.4) | 0.04 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 175 (18.9) | 91 (16.9) | 0.36 |
| Charlson index score | |||
| 0 | 23 (2.4) | 10 (1.8) | 0.44 |
| 1–2 | 469 (50.6) | 307 (57.3) | <0.05 |
| ≥3 | 435 (46.9) | 219 (40.8) | <0.05 |
| Respiratory drugs used in the year prior to cohort entry+ | |||
| Single drugs with or without concomitant drugs | |||
| ICS | 260 (28.0) | 164 (30.6) | 0.30 |
| SABA | 65 (7.0) | 28 (5.2) | 0.17 |
| SAMA | 20 (2.1) | 6 (1.1) | 0.15 |
| LABA | 103 (11.1) | 42 (7.8) | 0.04 |
| LAMA | 284 (30.6) | 115 (21.4) | <0.05 |
| Xanthines | 70 (7.5) | 26 (4.8) | <0.05 |
| Leukotriene receptor antagonists | 19 (2.0) | 15 (2.8) | 0.35 |
| Chromones | 4 (0.4) | 4 (0.7) | 0.47 |
| Mucolytic agents | 154 (16.6) | 72 (13.4) | 0.10 |
| Specific combinations: fixed or nonfixed combinations | |||
| SABA+ICS | |||
| Concomitant use, nonfixed combination | 18 (1.9) | 8 (1.5) | 0.53 |
| LABA+ICS | |||
| Fixed combination | 287 (30.9) | 159 (29.6) | 0.60 |
| Concomitant use, nonfixed combination | 21 (2.3) | 10 (1.8) | 0.60 |
| LAMA+ICS nonfixed combination | 74 (7.9) | 27 (5.0) | <0.05 |
| LABA+LAMA | |||
| Concomitant use, nonfixed combination | 51 (5.5) | 19 (3.5) | 0.09 |
| LABA+LAMA+ICS | |||
| Concomitant use, nonfixed combination | 126 (13.6) | 45 (8.4) | <0.05 |
| Median number of respiratory drugs | 2.0 (1–3) | 2.0 (1–3) | 0.03 |
| Antibiotic use prior to cohort entry+ | |||
| Penicillins | 279 (30.1) | 156 (29.1) | 0.69 |
| Amoxicillin and β-lactamase inhibitor | 214 (23.0) | 120 (22.4) | 0.76 |
| Amoxicillin | 53 (5.7) | 27 (5.0) | 0.58 |
| Other penicillins | 12 (1.3) | 9 (1.7) | 0.55 |
| Cephalosporins (I, II, III and IV generations) | 239 (25.8) | 153 (28.5) | 0.25 |
| Ceftriaxone | 141 (15.2) | 94 (17.5) | 0.24 |
| Cefixime | 32 (3.4) | 20 (3.7) | 0.78 |
| Other cephalosporins | 66 (7.1) | 39 (7.2) | 0.91 |
| Macrolides | 140 (15.1) | 93 (17.3) | 0.25 |
| Clarithromycin | 77 (8.3) | 52 (9.7) | 0.36 |
| Azithromycin | 40 (4.3) | 27 (5.0) | 0.52 |
| Other macrolides | 23 (2.4) | 14 (2.6) | 0.88 |
| Fluoroquinolones | 380 (41.0) | 189 (35.2) | <0.05 |
| Levofloxacin | 244 (26.3) | 101 (18.8) | <0.05 |
| Ciprofloxacin | 95 (10.2) | 61 (11.3) | 0.50 |
| Other fluoroquinolones | 41 (4.4) | 27 (5.0) | 0.59 |
| Any antibiotic | 582 (62.8) | 325 (60.6) | 0.41 |
| Median number of different antibiotic drugs | 2.0 (1–2) | 1.0 (1–2) | 0.21 |
| Concomitant drug use in the year prior to cohort entry+ | |||
| Cardiovascular drugs | |||
| ACEIs | 327 (35.3) | 161 (30.0) | <0.05 |
| ARBs | 193 (20.8) | 104 (19.4) | 0.51 |
| Calcium channel blockers | 226 (24.4) | 130 (24.2) | 0.95 |
| Diuretics | 325 (35.0) | 209 (39.0) | 0.13 |
| Beta blockers | 208 (22.4) | 143 (26.7) | 0.06 |
| Other antihypertensives | 59 (6.3) | 50 (9.3) | <0.05 |
| Digitalis glycosides | 44 (4.7) | 21 (3.9) | 0.45 |
| Vasodilators | 91 (9.8) | 41 (7.6) | 0.16 |
| Anti-arrythmics of classes I and III | 40 (4.3) | 15 (2.8) | 0.14 |
| Anti-thrombotics | 520 (56.1) | 264 (49.2) | <0.05 |
| Drugs for metabolic disease | |||
| Antidiabetics | 255 (27.5) | 118 (22.0) | <0.05 |
| Antilipidaemic drugs | 369 (39.8) | 178 (33.2) | <0.05 |
| Anti-osteoporosis drugs | 11 (1.2) | 96 (17.9) | <0.05 |
| Drugs acting on the immune system | |||
| Systemic corticosteroids | 264 (28.5) | 179 (33.4) | <0.05 |
| Analgesics | |||
| NSAIDs | 385 (41.5) | 264 (49.2) | <0.05 |
| Opioids | 107 (11.5) | 100 (18.6) | <0.05 |
| Psychiatric drugs | |||
| Antidepressants | 114 (12.3) | 112 (20.9) | <0.05 |
| BDZs | 58 (6.2) | 53 (9.8) | <0.05 |
| Other drugs | |||
| Drugs for peptic ulcer and GORD | 609 (65.7) | 379 (70.7) | <0.05 |
| Median number of concomitant drugs | 9 (6–14) | 10 (6–15) | <0.05 |
Data are presented as n (%) or median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. BMI: body mass index; ICS: inhaled corticosteroids; SABA: short-acting β-agonist; SAMA: short-acting muscarinic antagonist; LABA: long-acting β-agonist; LAMA: long-acting muscarinic antagonist; ACEIs: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; ARBs: angiotensin receptor blockers; NSAIDs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; BDZs: benzodiazepines; GORD: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. #: p-values were calculated using Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test when the expected frequencies were <5. A Mann–Whitney U-test was used for median values. ¶: stopped smoking for at least 1 year. +: not mutually exclusive.