Frequent exacerbators (n=12) | Infrequent exacerbators (n=28) | |
Age (years) | 67.3 (4.9) | 66.7 (7.2) |
Male sex1-151 | 6 (50%) | 18 (64%) |
Current smokers1-151 | 5 (42%) | 15 (54%) |
Inhaled steroids1-151 | 10 (83%)1-150 | 13 (46%) |
FEV1 (l) | 1.24 (0.48) | 1.19 (0.35) |
FEV1 (%) | 52.3 (13.8) | 48.2 (15.4) |
Response to inhaled β2agonists (ml) | 225 (130) | 175 (145) |
FEV1/VC (%) | 43.5 (10.3) | 43.3 (12.6) |
RV/TLC (%) | 118.8 (25.3) | 124.8 (22.2) |
Kco (%) | 93.7 (33.8) | 91.0 (26.5) |
FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second; VC = vital capacity; RV = residual volume; TLC = total lung capacity; Kco = carbon monoxide transfer coefficient.
Frequent exacerbators had suffered ⩾3 and infrequent exacerbators ⩽2 exacerbations in the previous 12 months.
↵1-151 Clinical characteristics expressed as number (%); the remainder of the data are shown as mean (SD).
↵1-150 Significant difference (p<0.05) in the proportion of patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids.