Participant characteristics
| Participant characteristics | Control (n=45) | PEP (n=45) |
|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 67.8 (11.6) | 69.5 (9.8) |
| Gender, male:female | 30:15 | 28:17 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 26.5 (6.4) | 24.4 (5.2) |
| Smoking pack years | 56.0 (41.3) | 72.3 (45.9) |
| FEV1, litres | 1.23 (0.66) | 0.98 (0.54) |
| FEV1, % predicted | 44.4 (20.2) | 37.3 (19.7) |
| Usual sputum producer, n (%) | 26 (58) | 28 (62) |
| Purulent or coloured sputum, n (%)* | 31 (86) | 34 (94) |
| Home oxygen, n (%) | 7 (16) | 12 (27) |
| Respiratory comorbidity, n (%) | 18 (40) | 18 (40) |
| Cardiac comorbidity, n (%) | 20 (44) | 23 (51) |
| AECOPD type 1, n (%) | 22 (49) | 26 (58) |
| AECOPD type 2, n (%) | 11 (24) | 14 (31) |
| AECOPD type 3, n (%) | 12 (27) | 5 (11) |
| pH | 7.40 (0.06) | 7.41 (0.05) |
| PaCO2, mm Hg | 48.0 (14.3) | 47.5 (12.5) |
| PaO2, mm Hg | 69.9 (29.8) | 72.2 (29.7) |
| Baseline BCSS | 7.5 (2.2) | 7.5 (2.0) |
| Baseline SGRQ total | 49.0 (19.5) | 49.9 (18.3) |
| Baseline SGRQ symptom | 68.5 (19.0) | 66.0 (17.9) |
| Baseline SGRQ activity | 53.0 (26.9) | 56.3 (27.0) |
| Baseline SGRQ impact | 40.8 (20.4) | 41.4 (18.3) |
Data are mean (SD) unless otherwise stated.
*Percentage expressed as a proportion of samples obtained.
AECOPD, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; BCSS, Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in the first second; PEP, positive expiratory pressure; PaO2, partial pressure of oxygen (arterial); PaCO2, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (arterial); pH, power of hydrogen; SGRQ, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire.