Baseline characteristics of patients
| Characteristics | No acute exacerbation n=152 | Acute exacerbation n=40 | p Value |
| Age (years) | 67.9±11.2 | 68.0±8.2 | 0.95 |
| BMI | 27.5±4.3 | 27.7±4.5 | 0.89 |
| Males | 118 (77.6) | 30 (75) | 0.72 |
| Smokers | |||
| Never | 36 (23.7) | 13 (32.5) | |
| Former | 11 (7.2) | 2 (5.0) | 0.58 |
| Current | 96 (63.2) | 24 (60.0) | |
| TLC% predicted | 69.9±16.0 | 64.7±13.0 | 0.06 |
| FVC % predicted | 76.8±20.3 | 73.4±15.1 | 0.33 |
| DLco % predicted | 47.6±16.5 | 42.2±13.0 | 0.05 |
| FEV1% predicted | 81.5±21.5 | 78.1±16.2 | 0.41 |
| Prednisone* | 60 (39.4) | 16(40) | 0.95 |
| SLB | 51 (33.8) | 19(47) | 0.13 |
| GORD | 60 (39.4) | 19 (31.7) | 0.40 |
| Death | 73 (48) | 36 (90.0) | <0.001 |
Data are presented as mean±SD or n (%).
*Prednisone use at inclusion or within the first 6 months after inclusion.
BMI, body mass index; DLco, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; FEV, forced expiratory volume; FVC, forced vital capacity; GORD, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; SLB, surgical lung biopsy; TLC, total lung capacity.