Demographic and functional characteristics of study groups
| Control subjects | COPD patients | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-smoking (n = 11) | Smoking (n = 10) | Steroid free (n = 10) | Steroid treated (n = 8) | |
| Values are expressed as median (range) or as absolute numbers. | ||||
| FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; RV, residual volume; TLC, total lung capacity; BMI, body mass index; ND, not determined. | ||||
| Differences between groups were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis H test and, if appropriate (p<0.05), subsequent analysis of subgroups was performed using Mann-Whitney U test or the Fisher’s exact test. | ||||
| *p<0.05 v non-smoking controls; †p<0.05 v smoking controls. | ||||
| Sex (M/F) | 6/5 | 7/3 | 8/2 | 6/2 |
| Age | 53 (42–69) | 51 (41–63) | 67 (38–74)*† | 58 (45–78) |
| Smoking behaviour | ||||
| Non/ex/current | 11/0/0 | 0/4/6* | 0/2/8* | 0/6/2* |
| Pack-years | 0 | 23 (13–44)* | 45 (24–56)*† | 47 (15–60)*† |
| FEV1 (ml) | 3760 (2130–5670) | 3465 (2480–4840) | 1215 (890–3010)*† | 1155 (600–1410)*† |
| FEV1 (% predicted) | 109 (94–133) | 99 (87–121) | 41 (29–75)*† | 35 (23–62)*† |
| FVC (ml) | 4690 (2620–6550) | 4260 (2940–7030) | 2525 (1530–5350)*† | 1675 (1040–3090)*† |
| FVC (% predicted) | 120 (91–127) | 100 (89–143) | 59 (44–107)*† | 48 (29–72)*† |
| FEV1/FVC (%) | 80 (71–90) | 79 (71–90) | 53 (43–62)*† | 60 (42–68)*† |
| RV (% predicted) | ND | ND | 215 (141–242) | 227 (189–242) |
| TLC (% predicted) | ND | ND | 109 (104–146) | 120 (100–131) |
| BMI | 23.4 (21.2–31.6) | 24.3 (21.2–31.6) | 25.6 (21.0–29.4) | 25.9 (16.5–25.9) |