Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study subjects (n = 128)
| Parameter | Value |
| Age, years | 67.4 ± 7.8 |
| Men, Number (%) | 99 (77.3) |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 24.2 ± 4.5 |
| Any smoke exposure | 71 (55.5) |
| Tobacco smoking | 59 (46.1) |
| Biomass smoke exposure | 13 (10.2) |
| Comorbid illnesses | |
| Hypertension | 45 (35.2) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 25 (19.5) |
| Coronary artery disease | 17 (13.3) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 8 (6.3) |
| Hypothyroidism | 7 (5.5) |
| Chronic liver disease | 3 (2.3) |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 1 (0.8) |
| Gastroesophageal reflux | 43 (33.6) |
| Duration of symptoms, months | 10.5 (6-24) |
| Oxygen saturation, % | 95 (92-97) |
| Spirometric abnormality (n = 115) | |
| Obstructive defect | 8 (6.3) |
| Restrictive defect | 80 (62.5) |
| Normal | 27 (21.1) |
| Could not perform | 13 (10.2) |
| Spirometric parameters (n = 115) | |
| FVC, litres | 2.14 ± 0.65 |
| FVC, % predicted | 70.0 ± 17.5 |
| FEV1, litres | 1.75 ± 0.49 |
| FEV1, % predicted | 74.6 ± 17.8 |
| DLCO, % predicted (n = 81) | 48.8 ± 19.3 |
| Six-minute walk distance, meters (n = 103) | 372 ± 79 |
| Presence of emphysema on HRCT chest | 25 (19.5) |
| Presence of pulmonary hypertension | 29 (22.7) |
| Use of domiciliary oxygen during the clinical course | 29 (22.7) |
All values represent mean ± standard deviation, median (interquartile range), or number (percentage). DLCO-diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, FEV1-forced expiratory volume in one second, FVC-forced vital capacity, HRCT-high resolution computed tomography