Baseline characteristics
| Patients completing oral steroid trial and providing valid data (N=524) | |
|---|---|
| FEV1=forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC=forced vital capacity; Tlco=carbon monoxide transfer factor. | |
| Mean (SD) age | 64.0 (7.0) |
| Male, N (%) | 407 (78%) |
| Atopic, N (%) (missing = 7) | 143 (28%) |
| Current smoker, N (%) | 246 (47%) |
| Ex-smoker, N (%) | 278 (53%) |
| Mean (SD) smoking (pack years) (missing = 38) | 44.6 (31.7) |
| Mean (SD) FEV1 pre-bronchodilator (l) | 1.23 (0.45) |
| Mean (SD) FEV1pre-bronchodilator (% predicted) | 43.1 (14.5) |
| Mean (SD) FEV1post-bronchodilator (l) | 1.40 (0.48) |
| Mean (SD) FEV1post-bronchodilator (% predicted) | 49.3 (14.6) |
| Mean (SD)ΔFEV1 post – pre-bronchodilator (ml) | 179 (128) |
| Mean (SD) FVC post-bronchodilator (l) | 3.32 (0.78) |
| Mean (SD) FVC post-bronchodilator (% predicted) | 92.0 (16.3) |
| Mean (SD) Tlco (% predicted) (missing = 76) | 56.4 (24.4) |