Baseline characteristics of patient group
| Placebo | Magnesium | |
|---|---|---|
| (N=61) | (N=48) | |
| Mean (SD) age, years | 69.5 (11.9) | 73.2 (9.8) |
| Female sex, n (%) | 30 (49.2) | 21 (43.8) |
| Current smokers, n (%) | 22/56 (39.3) | 18/45 (40.0) |
| Mean (SD) amount smoked, pack-years | 45.0 (30.7) (N=55) | 41.3 (21.3) (N=42) |
| Never smoker, n (%) | 2/56 (3.6) | 1/45 (2.2) |
| Long term oral steroid use, n (%) | 6/56 (10.7) | 5/45 (11.1) |
| Inhaled corticosteroid, n (%) | 44/56 (78.6) | 37/45 (82.2) |
| Home nebuliser, n (%) | 17/56 (30.4) | 11/45 (24.4) |
| Home oxygen, n (%) | 10/56 (17.9) | 8/45 (17.8) |
| Diuretic use, n (%) | 12/61 (19.7) | 13/48 (27.1) |
| Hospital admission in last year | 1.3 (N=55) | 1.0 (N=45) |
| Mean (SD) presentation FEV1, l | 0.72 (0.25) | 0.69 (0.26) |
| Mean (SD) presentation FEV1, % predicted | 29.7 (9.2) | 28.2 (9.3) |
| Mean (SD) baseline FEV1, l | 0.74 (0.28) | 0.74 (0.28) |
| Serum magnesium level (mmol/l) | 0.78 (0.10) (N=42) | 0.81 (0.08) (N=36) |
FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s.