Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and matched healthy controls
Healthy controls (n = 103)COPD patients (n = 102)p Value
Sex (M/F)51/5261/410.161
Age (y)66.7 (0.7)67.1 (0.7)0.677
Current smoker49 (48)48 (47)1.000
Ex-smoker54 (52)54 (53)1.000
Serum total cholesterol (mmol/l)5.5 (0.1)5.7 (0.1)0.329
LDL cholesterol (mmol/l)3.2 (0.1)3.1 (0.1)0.444
HDL cholesterol (mmol/l)1.5 (0.1)1.6 (0.1)0.335
C reactive protein (mg/l)2.3 (0.4)6.1 (0.9)0.001
Height (cm)168 (0.9)164 (2.3)0.097
Weight (kg)76 (1.3)69 (2.2)0.005
Body mass index (kg/m2)27 (0.4)25 (0.7)0.014

  • Values are mean (SEM) or number (%).

  • Significance (p): unpaired t test (continuous variables), χ2 (categorical data).

  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL, low density lipoprotein.