Table 1 Characteristics of the overall patients and by gender

Age median (range)

67.5 +/- 10.5

69.1 +/- 10.5

65.8 +/- 10.4

BMI (mean +/- SD)

25.5 ± 5.20

26.3 ± 4.4

24.7 ± 5.8

Smoking habits

• Current smokers n (%)

60 (61.9%)

27 (55.1)

33 (68.8)

• Former smokers n (%)

22 (22.7%)

18 (36.7)

4 (8.3)*

• Never smokers n (%)

15 (15.6%)

4 (8.2)

11 (22.9)*

GOLD class n (%)

  • 1

18 (18.6)

9 (18.4)

9 (18.8)

  • 2

55 (56.7)

27 (55.1)

28 (58.3)

  • 3

20 (20.6)

12 (24.5)

8 (16.7)

  • 4

4 (4.1)

1 (2.0)

3 (6.3)

Medication for COPD n (%)

• None

6 (7.4)

1 (2.4)

5 (12.5)

• Long Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA)

53 (55)

28 (57)

25 (52)

• Long Acting Beta Adrenergic (LABA)

64 (66)

35 (71)

29 (60)

• Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS)

61 (63)

35 (71)

26 (54)

AECOPD/year, median (IQR)

2 (1-2)

2 (1-2)

2 (1-2.5)

Frequent exacerbators n (%)

55 (56.7)

25 (51.0)

30 (62.5)

Hospitalized for AECOPD in the last year, n (%)

50 (51.6)

25 (51.0)

25 (52.0)

FEV₁%pred, mean ± SD

62.3 ± 18.0

62.4 ± 17.3

62.2 ± 18.9

VC%pred, mean ± SD

83.1 ± 18.1

82.0 ± 18.3

84.1 ± 18.0

FEV₁/VC%, mean ± SD

53.8 ± 11.4

54.0 ± 11.5

53.6 ± 11.4

MEF₅₀% pred, mean ± SD

28.8 ± 21.4

28.8 ± 20.6

28.8 ± 22.4