Table 3.
Baseline Characteristics Among the 2 Groups
| Total Population | Concluding the Study (n = 85) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Groups | No ICS (n = 34) | Resumed ICS (n = 51) | p-value |
| Gender (%M) | 16 (47.1) | 20 (40.0) | 0.53 |
| BMI, mean (range) | 25.7 (17–38) | 24.7 (12–44) | |
| Age – years, mean (±) | 69.9 (51–86 yrs) | 70.5 (52–94 yrs) | 0.64 |
| GOLD (%) | |||
| A | 2 (5.9) | 2 (3.9) | |
| B | 10 (29.4) | 9 (17.6) | |
| C | 2 (5.9) | 6 (11.8) | |
| D | 20 (58.8) | 34 (66.7) | |
| MRC (%) | |||
| 1 | 1 (2.9%) | 1 (2%) | |
| 2 | 10 (29.4%) | 8 (15.7%) | |
| 3 | 12 (35.3%) | 19 (37.3%) | |
| 4 | 7 (20.6%) | 16 (31.4%) | |
| 5 | 4 (11.8%) | 7 (13.7%) | |
| Smoking history | |||
| Former smokers (%) | 24 (70.6) | 42 (82.4) | 0.14 |
| Current smokers (%) | 10 (29.4) | 9 (17.6) | 0.22 |
| Pack years, mean | 45.24 | 44.74 | |
| Daily dose of ICS, mean (µg) | 708.8 | 748.0 | 0.44 |
| Lung function | |||
| FEV1 liters | 1.00 | 0.96 | 0.63 |
| FEV1% predicted | 41.0 | 40.5 | |
| Blood eosinophil conc. | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.07 |
| No. of patients with exacerbations prior to inclusion (%) | 18 (53) | 27 (54) | 0.93 |
| Charlson comorbidity Index | |||
| 0 (%) | 5 (14.7) | 9 (17.6) | 0.72 |
| 1 (%) | 9 (26.5) | 16 (31.4) | 0.63 |
| ≥2 (%) | 20 (58.8) | 26 (51.0) | 0.48 |
Abbreviations: ICS, inhaled corticosteroids; %M, percent males; BMI, body mass index; n, numbers; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1st second; conc., concentration; no., numbers.