TABLE 3.
Characteristics | Never smokers (n=18) | Smokers without COPD (n=26) | COPD GOLD II (n=34) | COPD GOLD III–IV (n=14) |
Sex male/female | 6/12# | 19/7# | 31/3# | 8/6# |
Age years | 65 (56–70) | 63 (55–70) | 66 (58–69)§ | 56 (54–60)¶,+,§ |
Smoking status | ||||
Current smoker | na | 16 | 22 | 0 |
Ex-smoker | na | 10 | 12 | 14 |
Smoking pack-years | na | 28 (15–45)¶ | 45 (40–60)¶,§ | 30 (25–30)¶,+,§ |
DLCO mmol·min−1·kPa−1 | 21.58 | 23.30 | 17.22¶ | 2.9¶,+,§ |
% predicted DLCO | 90.00 | 80.00 | 67.00¶ | 35.00¶,+,§ |
DLCO/VA mmol·min−1·kPa−1·VA−1 | 4.64 | 3.89¶ | 3.51¶ | 0.87¶,+,§ |
% predicted DLCO/VA | 102.85 | 91.00¶ | 87.00¶ | 58.50¶,+,§ |
% predicted FEV1 | 102.00 | 95.00 | 68.00¶,§ | 25.50¶,+,§ |
FEV1/FVC % | 78.00 | 75.00 | 56.00¶,§ | 32.00¶,+,§ |
Data are presented as n, n/n or median (IQR). COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GOLD: Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; na: not applicable; DLCO: diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; VA: alveolar volume; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; IQR: interquartile range. #: p<0.001 (by Fisher's exact test); ¶: p<0.05 versus never smokers (by Mann–Whitney U-test); +: p<0.05 versus COPD GOLD II (by Mann–Whitney U-test); §: p<0.05 versus smokers without COPD (by Mann–Whitney U-test).