| COPD(n = 355) | Controls(n = 44) | p Value | |
| Age (mean±SD) | 68.7±8.9 | 68.8±6.0 | 0.951 |
| FEV1% predicted (mean±SD) | 49.1±19.0 | 92.6±16.7 | <0.001 |
| Median (IQR) number of co-morbid diagnoses | 3 (2–5) | 2 (1–3) | 0.007 |
| Hypertension | 37.4% | 22.7% | 0.059 |
| Previous vascular event | 25.4% | 11.3% | 0.040 |
| Osteoarthritis | 19.1% | 25.0% | 0.359 |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 17.8% | 6.8% | 0.066 |
| Atrial fibrillation or flutter | 8.7% | 2.3% | 0.040 |
| Gastro-oesophageal reflux/peptic ulcer | 8.1% | 6.7% | 0.352 |
| Diabetes | 7.3% | 9.1% | 0.773 |
| Hypercholesterolaemia | 6.8% | 9.1% | 0.568 |