Table 1.
Patient characteristics. Data are presented as N (%), mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range).
| Variable | All | Post-TB | Other aetiologies | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | 148 | 46 (31.1%) | 102 (68.9%) | |
| Demographics | ||||
| Age, years | 63 ± 9 | 63 ± 10 | 63 ± 8 | 0.93 |
| Male | 84 (56.8%) | 30 (65.2%) | 54 (52.9%) | 0.16 |
| Ethnicity | 0.34 | |||
| Chinese | 95 (64.2%) | 29 (63.0%) | 66 (64.7%) | |
| Malay | 35 (23.6%) | 9 (19.6%) | 26 (25.5%) | |
| Indian | 7 (4.7%) | 2 (4.3%) | 5 (4.9%) | |
| Others | 11 (7.4%) | 6 (13.0%) | 5 (4.9%) | |
| Body mass index (BMI), kg/m2 | 22.9 ± 6.0 | 21.2 ± 6.4 | 23.6 ± 5.7 | 0.04 |
| Unknown BMI | 21 (14.2%) | 9 (19.6%) | 12 (11.8%) | |
| Current or ex-smoker | 55 (37.2%) | 20 (43.5%) | 35 (34.3%) | 0.29 |
| Modified MRC dyspnoea scale | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | 0.69 |
| Haemoptysis | 26 (17.6%) | 14 (30.4%) | 12 (11.8%) | 0.006 |
| Oxygen saturation, % | 98 ± 2 | 98 ± 2 | 98 ± 2 | 0.93 |
| Respiratory rate, breaths per minute | 19 ± 2 | 19 ± 3 | 19 ± 2 | 0.81 |
| Number of lobes affected | 2 (1–2) | 2 (1–3) | 1 (1–2) | 0.26 |
| Unknown number of lobes affected | 1 (0.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (0.9%) | |
| Required mechanical ventilation | 4 (2.7%) | 3 (6.5%) | 1 (1.0%) | 0.09 |
| Spirometry | ||||
| FEV1/FVC | 0.72 (0.70–0.74) | 0.72 (0.69–0.74) | 0.72 (0.70–0.74) | 0.42 |
| FEV1, % predicted | 75 (57–90) | 63 (40–82) | 78 (60–95) | 0.005 |
| FVC, % predicted | 76 (63–92) | 68 (61–81) | 80 (66–94) | 0.05 |
| Unknown lung function | 46 (31.1%) | 20 (43.4%) | 26 (25.5%) | |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Pulmonary | ||||
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 33 (22.3%) | 12 (26.1%) | 21 (20.6%) | 0.46 |
| Asthma | 25 (16.9%) | 5 (10.9%) | 20 (19.6%) | 0.19 |
| Lung cancer | 1 (0.7%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (1.0%) | 1.00 |
| Extrapulmonary | ||||
| Ischemic heart disease | 16 (10.8%) | 5 (10.9%) | 11 (10.8%) | 0.99 |
| Diabetes | 19 (12.8%) | 4 (8.7%) | 15 (14.7%) | 0.53 |
| Liver disease | 1 (0.7%) | 1 (2.2%) | 0 (0%) | 0.31 |
| Chronic renal failure (moderate to severe CKD) | 3 (2.0%) | 1 (2.2%) | 2 (2.0%) | 1.00 |
| Connective tissue disease | 11 (7.4%) | 0 (0%) | 11 (10.8%) | 0.02 |
| Neurological diseases (stroke, dementia, hemiplegia) | 10 (6.8%) | 1 (2.2%) | 9 (8.8%) | 0.44 |
| Gastroesophageal reflux disease | 4 (2.7%) | 1 (2.2%) | 3 (2.9%) | 0.55 |
| Peptic ulcer disease | 3 (2.0%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (2.9%) | 0.55 |
| Sinonasal disease | 5 (3.4%) | 2 (4.3%) | 3 (2.9%) | 0.65 |
| Microbiology | ||||
| Organism identified | 37 (25.0%) | 22 (47.8%) | 15 (14.7%) | <0.001 |
| Non-tuberculous mycobacteria | 17 (11.5%) | 12 (26.1%) | 5 (4.9%) | <0.001 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 4 (2.7%) | 2 (4.3%) | 2 (2.0%) | 0.59 |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 4 (2.7%) | 2 (4.3%) | 2 (2.0%) | 0.59 |
| Haemophilus influenzae | 3 (2.0%) | 1 (2.2%) | 2 (2.0%) | 1.00 |
| Viruses | 7 (4.7%) | 4 (8.7%) | 3 (2.9%) | 0.20 |
| Aspergillus | 1 (0.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.0%) | 1.00 |
FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC = Forced Vital Capacity; MRC = Modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale.